A US military operation has destroyed a floating fuel station tied to Los Choneros. The crew will be handed to Ecuador. This marks a shift in anti-narcotics tactics, targeting logistics at sea.
The US military has sunk a vessel used as a floating fuel station for Los Choneros, a major Ecuadorian criminal group, in the latest move to disrupt drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific. The operation, carried out on September 15 by US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), signals a change in approach: instead of focusing only on drug shipments, US forces are now targeting the supply networks that keep these organizations running offshore.
US officials say the intercepted vessel was not carrying drugs but acted as a supply point for traffickers. After boarding, US personnel removed the crew and then sank the ship. The number of crew members and the exact location have not been made public. SOUTHCOM confirmed that all crew will be handed over to Ecuadorian authorities for further investigation.
According to independent regional reports, at least six vessels linked to Los Choneros have been intercepted and destroyed by US forces since late August, marking an unprecedented tempo in maritime anti-narcotics operations in the Eastern Pacific.
This action is part of a series of recent US operations. Since late August, US forces have seized or destroyed several vessels suspected of supporting drug trafficking by providing fuel and supplies at sea. Operations on August 28, September 2, 7, and 8 have led to the capture or destruction of multiple ships, some directly linked to Los Choneros. According to SOUTHCOM and regional defense monitors, these efforts are coordinated with Ecuador, which takes custody of detained crews for possible prosecution.
Unlike earlier US interventions that often focused on intercepting boats carrying drugs—sometimes with casualties—this operation removed the crew before sinking the vessel. The aim is to avoid loss of life while still hitting the infrastructure that supports organized crime at sea. Some regional media and analysts have pointed out that, while US sources highlight the removal of crews as a humanitarian step, there are concerns about how these actions might affect local fishermen and civilian boats, as reported by several Latin American outlets.
SOUTHCOM says its goal is to break up the logistical networks that allow criminal groups to operate far from land. General Francis L. Donovan, who leads the US Southern Command, has called for ongoing pressure on these organizations by disrupting their supply chains and finances. The campaign comes as the US and Ecuador step up cooperation, with Los Choneros remaining a main target for both countries' security forces.
US authorities have officially designated Los Choneros as a narco-terrorist organization, which has expanded the legal mandate for targeting not only drug shipments but also the group’s maritime logistics infrastructure. This designation is seen as a key factor enabling the recent escalation in joint US-Ecuadorian operations at sea, according to multiple defense and policy analysts.
By going after the vessels that keep traffickers supplied and mobile, US authorities hope to limit the reach of groups like Los Choneros. The strategy reflects a belief that seizing drugs alone is not enough; the real impact comes from disrupting the logistics that make large-scale trafficking possible. As Ecuador continues to deal with the influence of powerful criminal groups, the US is signaling that supply lines in the Pacific are now a target. The success of this approach will depend on continued cooperation and Ecuador's willingness to take custody of those detained at sea.
