The U.S. military intercepted and sank a vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Wednesday after officials said it was being used to support a “narco-terrorist” network, U.S. Southern Command announced.
According to SOUTHCOM, the operation focused on a vessel linked to Los Choneros, a group the command characterized as a violent narco-terrorist organization involved in drug trafficking activity.
In a statement, SOUTHCOM said that on Sept. 2, under the direction of Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan and in coordination with Ecuador’s government, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere carried out a successful interdiction in international waters of the Eastern Pacific. The vessel, officials said, was functioning as a floating refueling station for illegal maritime drug trafficking operations.
Military officials said intelligence assessments confirmed the boat was operating in support of Los Choneros.
SOUTHCOM said U.S. Marines and sailors assigned to the USS San Antonio stopped the vessel, boarded it, conducted a search and secured it without incident.
Several people aboard the vessel were taken off and handed over to Ecuadorian authorities, the command said.
After everyone had been safely removed, U.S. forces sank the vessel, according to SOUTHCOM.
In its statement, SOUTHCOM said the operation “cuts off a critical node” in the alleged drug traffickers’ illicit activities. It did not disclose the specific location of the operation.
The action was taken in support of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) and JTF-WHEM’s mission to dismantle narco-terrorist networks in the region, according to SOUTHCOM.
“We are taking decisive action to dismantle and destroy sophisticated logistics networks used by narco-terrorists to traffic drugs and spread violence throughout the Western Hemisphere,” Donovan said.
“This operation demonstrated the elite capabilities and precision of Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere, which is on watch in the region to apply total systemic friction on these networks,” he added.
Video of the operation released by SOUTHCOM shows military personnel intercepting the vessel before boarding it and ultimately sinking the craft.
SOUTHCOM also responded after Ecuador’s Ministry of National Defense shared footage of the operation on social media.
“The message is clear: the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition will continue to apply total systemic friction on narco-terrorists,” SOUTHCOM wrote.
Wednesday’s interdiction comes amid a months-long campaign launched by the Trump administration aimed at dismantling cartel-linked trafficking networks.
SOUTHCOM has conducted dozens of strikes in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean targeting vessels it says are connected to “narco-terrorists.”
Last week, the military said it carried out a strike in the Caribbean that killed four alleged “narco-terrorists.”
Following that strike, the Trump administration’s campaign targeting suspected cartel vessels has resulted in at least 227 deaths across 68 reported strikes over roughly one year.
