US military boards, searches and sinks vessel allegedly supporting Los Choneros narco-terrorists
U.S. Forces Interdict and Sink Vessel Tied to Los Choneros in the Eastern Pacific
The U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced on Wednesday that U.S. Marines and sailors from the destroyer USS San Antonio boarded and destroyed a vessel operating in international waters of the Eastern Pacific. The ship—described by the military as a floating fuel depot—was said to be a key logistical node for Los Choneros, a violent drug‑trafficking organization.
On September 2, in a joint effort with Ecuadorian authorities, a Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF‑WHEM) operation intercepted the craft. After boarding, the crew removed several individuals from the vessel and transferred them to Ecuador for questioning. Once the personnel were safely removed, U.S. forces scuttled the ship, eliminating what SOUTHCOM called a “critical node” in the cartel’s maritime network.
A coordinated strike against a drug‑trafficking hub
The operation, carried out under the direction of SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, was part of the Americas Counter‑Cartel Coalition (A3C) and JTF‑WHEM’s broader mission to dismantle narco‑terrorist networks across the Western Hemisphere. “We are taking decisive action to dismantle and destroy sophisticated logistics networks used by narco‑terrorists to traffic drugs and spread violence throughout the Western Hemisphere,” Donovan said in a statement. He added that the strike demonstrated the elite capabilities of JTF‑WHEM and highlighted its role in applying “total systemic friction” on cartel operations.
The U.S. military released a video of the operation on its official channels, showing Marines and sailors from USS San Antonio approaching the vessel, boarding it, and eventually sinking it. Ecuador’s Ministry of National Defense also posted footage of the strike on social media, underscoring the multinational cooperation involved.
Context: a month‑long campaign of maritime strikes
SOUTHCOM’s announcement comes amid a campaign launched by the former administration that has targeted suspected cartel vessels across the Eastern Pacific and the Caribbean. The operation was the latest in a series of 68 reported strikes that have, according to the Pentagon, resulted in 227 deaths of alleged narco‑terrorists over roughly one year. The latest strike followed a week‑earlier attack in the Caribbean that killed four individuals linked to drug smuggling operations.
SOUTHCOM highlighted the “steepest decline in U.S. casualties from cartels amid boat strikes” in a recent White House statement, noting that the U.S. military has been able to conduct interdictions with fewer losses on its personnel.
Implications for U.S. maritime security
The interception of the Los Choneros‑linked vessel illustrates the ongoing threat posed by drug traffickers to U.S. and regional maritime security. By disabling a floating refueling station, U.S. forces aim to disrupt the logistical backbone that enables cartels to move narcotics across international waters.
Ecuador’s cooperation in the operation underscores the importance of regional partnerships in counter‑drug efforts. The joint action also sends a clear signal to criminal networks that U.S. and partner forces will continue to apply pressure on maritime nodes critical to narcotics trafficking.
Looking ahead
While SOUTHCOM did not disclose the exact coordinates of the strike, the operation reinforces the U.S. military’s commitment to maintaining a “watchful presence” in the Western Hemisphere. The continued use of naval forces, such as the USS San Antonio, in interdiction missions is expected to remain a cornerstone of the broader strategy to undermine narco‑terrorist infrastructure.
As the campaign proceeds, authorities will likely continue to target vessels that facilitate drug transport, while also working with partner nations to ensure that captured suspects are handed over for prosecution or further investigation.