Ecuador Backs US Vessel Sinkings as Part of Joint Anti-Drug Campaign

Ecuadorian officials have defended a recent US military operation that resulted in the sinking of three vessels accused of participating in drug-trafficking networks in the Eastern Pacific. The government stated on Friday that the interception and subsequent sinking of these Ecuadorian vessels were conducted as part of joint investigations with Washington, aimed at disrupting drug-smuggling routes tied to criminal gangs.

Ecuadorian Interior Minister John Reimberg explained to broadcaster Teleamazonas that the targeted boats functioned as refueling stations for speedboats transporting narcotics northward toward Mexico and the United States. "This is work carried out through international cooperation," Reimberg stated.

The US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) echoed these remarks, reporting on X that it successfully interdicted a vessel operating as a floating refueling station linked to the Los Choneros gang. SOUTHCOM added that individuals removed from the vessel would be safely transferred to Ecuadorian authorities before U.S. forces sank the craft. A video shared by SOUTHCOM depicted US forces boarding a vessel prior to its destruction, though the exact timing and location remain unverified.

Meanwhile, relatives of the detained crew members disputed the official narrative, claiming the military acted without evidence and insisting the men were simply fishermen. The wife of one crew member told Reuters that no drugs were found when US forces boarded the boat. The Ecuadorian navy confirmed receiving 28 crew members from the sunken vessels, who arrived at the major fishing port of Manta aboard a local coastguard vessel.

These events form part of an ongoing maritime campaign against drug trafficking led by the administration of US President Donald Trump, which has sparked regional concerns in Latin America regarding the use of lethal force and air attacks in international waters. SOUTHCOM previously confirmed strikes on August 23 and August 25 that resulted in fatalities, while reports indicate the US administration claims to be engaged in a "non-international armed conflict" with drug-trafficking organizations.