Human Rights Watch demands legal clarity on US-Ecuador maritime operations

Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on the United States and Ecuador to disclose the legal basis for naval operations in the Pacific that resulted in the destruction of eight Ecuadorian fishing vessels between August 28 and September 16, 2026.

U.S. military forces, in coordination with Ecuadorian authorities, intercepted the ships under the premise that they served as floating refueling stations for drug trafficking linked to the criminal group Los Choneros. However, HRW reports that neither government has provided solid evidence linking individual crew members to specific crimes.

Of the 160 crew members involved, over 140 were detained. Ecuadorian judges ruled that the arrest of 56 individuals was unlawful, and 14 others were not brought before a judge. Some detainees reported physical abuse, including being beaten or threatened to coerce confessions regarding fuel trafficking.