The US military announced that it destroyed an alleged drug smuggling boat in a joint operation with Ecuadorian forces. According to the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), the vessel was acting as a floating refueling station in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
SOUTHCOM identified the vessel as supporting the Los Choneros, one of Ecuador’s most powerful criminal gangs designated by Washington as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The operation was described as a decisive strike against a narco-terrorist operation responsible for moving significant drug quantities through the area.
US-Ecuador Cooperation in Counter-Narcotics Efforts
Ecuador became part of the US-led coalition called Shield of the Americas in March, aiming to combat drug trafficking across the region. Ecuador’s location between Colombia and Peru—two of the world’s largest cocaine producers—places it at a strategic crossroads for traffickers.
The US military launched Operation Southern Spear in September 2025 as part of ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking in the region. While the US government has targeted vessels like the one recently destroyed, it has yet to present conclusive evidence that these vessels were carrying illegal drugs.
Background on Los Choneros and Drug Trafficking Routes
Los Choneros is considered a violent narco-terrorist organization involved in significant drug trafficking activities. The group’s operations include coordinating shipments and providing logistical support, such as floating refueling stations for traffickers operating in the Pacific.
Controlling maritime routes is crucial for disrupting the flow of narcotics from South America to other parts of the world, and this latest strike represents an effort to weaken the infrastructure supporting these criminal networks.
