US forces sink narco-refueling station linked to Ecuadorian cartel in Pacific: SOUTHCOM

U.S. forces sank a floating refueling vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean that was being used by the Ecuadorian organized crime ring, Los Choneros, for drug trafficking operations. The vessel was interdicted by Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTFWH), and the individuals aboard were removed and will be handed over to Ecuadorian authorities. This action is part of the U.S. administration’s broader campaign to target suspected drug-smuggling vessels and dismantle logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking.

• U.S. forces sank a floating refueling vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
• The vessel was used by the Ecuadorian organized crime ring, Los Choneros, for drug trafficking.
• The action was carried out by Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTFWH).
• Individuals aboard the vessel were removed and will be transferred to Ecuadorian authorities.
• The Los Choneros cartel was recently designated a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department.
• This operation is part of the U.S. strategy to counter narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.