US sanctions Ecuadorian fishing fleet for cocaine smuggling

The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned a fleet of ten Ecuador-based fishing vessels and 15 associated targets for their alleged role in smuggling massive quantities of cocaine to Mexico and the United States. Operating near Manta, Ecuador, the fleet reportedly used legitimate fishing activities as a cover to support drug trafficking operations.

According to the Treasury and the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the vessels provided essential logistics to “go-fast” boats, including fuel, food, medical services, and monitoring of law enforcement presence. One specific vessel, Todos Vuelven, is accused of directly transporting several tons of cocaine, while the others provided support in the Pacific Ocean. The operation is estimated to move between 30 and 40 tons of cocaine monthly.

The network links Ecuadorian cartels, specifically Los Choneros and Los Lobos, to Mexican criminal organizations including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG). Julio Javier Mero Franco has been identified as a key coordinator for these shipments moving from Ecuador toward Central America and Mexico.