U.S. sinks an Ecuadorian ship in the Pacific it alleges is tied to drug trafficking
The U.S. Southern Command has sunk a fifth vessel in two weeks, alleging it was a floating refueling station for the criminal group Los Choneros. The operation is part of a broader effort to dismantle drug trafficking networks in the Eastern Pacific.
Why it matters
The escalation of U.S. military intervention against alleged drug-trafficking vessels in Latin American waters highlights ongoing regional security tensions.
The U.S. Southern Command on Monday (September 7, 2026) sank another Ecuadorian vessel that the U.S. alleged was linked to the criminal group Los Choneros.
It was the latest action by the U.S. against boats and vessels in Latin America that it said were involved in drug trafficking.
The joint task force intercepted a floating refueling station that supported illicit drug trafficking operations at sea in the Eastern Pacific, the Southern Command said in a statement.
It added that the people on board the vessel were removed and will be transferred to Ecuadorian authorities.
A video accompanying the announcement showed military personnel boarding a ship, followed by a helicopter flying overhead and finally a projectile striking and sinking it.
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