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[INTERNATIONAL] · United States, Ecuador · 26 sources

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Part of situation: US military anti-drug operations in Latin America (28 clusters)

U.S. forces sink Los Choneros refueling vessel in Eastern Pacific

maritime interdiction drug trafficking Los Choneros Eastern Pacific SOUTHCOM

U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced that U.S. forces, in coordination with the Ecuadorian government, intercepted and sank a vessel acting as a floating refueling station in the Eastern Pacific. The operation was carried out by the Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere using personnel from the USS San Antonio.

Intelligence confirmed the vessel was linked to the Los Choneros narco-terrorist organization and had previously been sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury. Following a boarding and search operation, the individuals on board were safely removed and transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. The vessel was subsequently sunk to disrupt the logistics of drug trafficking networks.

This operation is part of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition's efforts to dismantle clandestine narco-terrorist capabilities. While military officials describe it as a decisive blow to drug trafficking, some reports note that the broader campaign, known as Operation Southern Spear, has faced criticism regarding its strategic effectiveness and has resulted in over 200 deaths in maritime attacks since September 2025. Additionally, some Ecuadorian fishing sectors have expressed concerns regarding maritime interdictions and the use of drones in their waters.

Entities

Ecuador · Ecuadorian Ministry of Defense · Ecuadorian Navy · Francis L. Donovan · Gian Carlo Loffredo · INOCAR · Los Choneros · U.S. Southern Command · USS San Antonio · United States

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

Sources

ABD’den Doğu Pasifik’te operasyon: Los Choneros Karteli’nin yakıt ikmal teknesi batırıldı [www.turkgun.com]
Ecuador triplica su capacidad de interdicción marítima con cooperación de Estados Unidos | Machala Móvil | Noticias de Machala, El Oro, Ecuador y el mundo [machalamovil.com]
USA tvrdia, že v Tichom oceáne zničili loď, ktorá zásobovala pašerákov palivom | Aktuality. sk [www.aktuality.sk]
US military interdicts floating refueling station in Eastern Pacific before sinking it [offthepress.com]
Buques de Ecuador y Estados Unidos realizan maniobras frente a Galápagos como parte de Galapex 2026 [ecuadorendirecto.com]
US-Ecuador operation destroys alleged drug-smuggling boat [myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com]
Η στιγμή που ο αμερικανικός στρατός εξουδετερώνει πλοίο καρτέλ ναρκωτικών στον Ειρηνικό (Βίντεο) - Ναυτικά Χρονικά [www.naftikachronika.gr]
Doğu Pasifik'te Los Choneros bağlantılı yakıt teknesi batırıldı | Haber Sitesi [www.haberport.com]
Ekvador'da Uyuşturucu Kartellerine Yönelik Ortak Operasyon Gerçekleştirildi | Mersin Haber - Mersin'den Haberiniz Olsun! [www.mersinhaber.com]
Comando Sur de EEUU interceptó y hundió narcolancha en el Pacífico | Diario El Mundo | Noticias de Honduras y el Mundo [elmundo.hn]
Βίντεο-ντοκουμέντο: Η στιγμή που οι ΗΠΑ ανατινάζουν «πλοίο ναρκεμπόρων» στον Ειρηνικό [www.ethnos.gr]
ΗΠΑ: Χτύπησαν πλοίο στο Ειρηνικό - "Ανεφοδίαζε ταχύπλοα που μετέφεραν ναρκωτικά" (Βίντεο) [www.parapolitika.gr]
Ειδήσεις Κύπρος [www.sigmalive.com]
Poder naval y dudas sobre la eficacia estratégica de la Operación Lanza del Sur de Estados Unidos tras 67 ataques y 227 muertos [www.defensa.com]
Οι ΗΠΑ ανατινάζουν «ναρκοσκάφος» στον Ειρηνικό - Βίντεο από την στιγμή της μεγάλης έκρηξης [www.newsit.gr]
Επίθεση ΗΠΑ σε πλοίο που χρησμοποιούσαν τα καρτέλ ναρκωτικών στον Ειρηνικό [www.ertnews.gr]
US military interdicts floating refueling station in Eastern Pacific before sinking it [justthenews.com]
EE. UU. hunde presunta estación de reabastecimiento de drogas y lleva a la tripulación a Ecuador [localnews8.com]
EE. UU. hunde presunta estación de reabastecimiento de drogas y lleva a la tripulación a Ecuador [abc17news.com]
VIDEO: Comando Sur de EEUU interceptó y hundió narcolancha en el Pacífico [lapatilla.com]
USMC Future of Warfare Video [army.ca]
Marines board, sink alleged drug ship off Ecuador [taskandpurpose.com]
EE. UU. hunde presunta estación de reabastecimiento de drogas y lleva a la tripulación a Ecuador [kvia.com]
EE. UU. intercepta y hunde embarcación que reabastecía de combustible a “narcoterroristas” [www.latercera.com]
Estados Unidos señala que interceptó barco que habría abastecido operaciones de narcotráfico [eluniverso.com]
Loffredo responde por ataques a pesqueros y destaca apoyo de EE. UU. [www.expreso.ec]