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[INTERNATIONAL] · Ecuador, United States · 10 sources

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

Ecuadorian judge acquits 32 crew members of U.S.-sunk vessels

Ecuadorian fishing vessels U.S. military operations drug trafficking allegations maritime law crew acquittal

An Ecuadorian judge has acquitted 32 crew members of two fishing vessels, the Conquista II and María Candelaria, of criminal association. The crew members had been accused of collaborating with drug traffickers, specifically the Los Choneros gang, which the U.S. government classifies as a terrorist organization.

The vessels were intercepted and sunk by United States military forces in cooperation with the Ecuadorian government between late August and mid-September. The U.S. Southern Command alleged the ships functioned as floating refueling stations for vessels transporting narcotics to North America.

Defense attorney Juan Alvia stated that the prosecution failed to provide any documentary evidence or official reports linking the crew to illegal activities. This verdict is the first of three planned legal proceedings involving a total of 88 crew members from five different vessels. A second trial for 46 individuals was recently suspended due to a lack of witnesses, and a third trial for 10 sailors is scheduled for October 20.

Entities

Conquista 2 · Ecuadorian judiciary · Human Rights Watch · Juan Alvia · Los Choneros · Maria Candelaria · United States Southern Command

Claims

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

Sources

Maduro y Cilia Flores podrían afrontar nuevos cargos por presunta tortura de estadounidenses, según CNN [ahora.com.pe]
Ecuador declara inocentes a 32 pescadores atacados por EU en altamar - La Jornada San Luis [lajornadasanluis.com.mx]
Bemanning door VS gebombardeerde schepen vrijgesproken in Ecuador [www.rd.nl]
Juicio a 46 tripulantes de barcos atacados por EEUU se suspende por ausencia de testigos [fmmundo.com]
Ecuador Judge Acquits 32 Crew Members of Boats Destroyed by US Military [orinocotribune.com]
Ecuador absuelve a 32 pescadores atacados por EEUU en el Pacífico [questiondigital.com]
Una jueza de Ecuador declara inocentes a 32 tripulantes de dos barcos bombardeados por EE UU [www.14ymedio.com]
Sin prueba para condenarlos: absuelven a 32 tripulantes de barcos bombardeados por EE. UU. [actualidad-rt.com]
Ecuador | La Justicia declara inocentes a 32 tripulantes de dos barcos pesqueros atacados por EEUU en aguas del Pacífico [www.nodal.am]
Declaran inocentes a 32 tripulantes de Ecuador tras ataques de EEUU - Noticias Prensa Latina [www.prensa-latina.cu]