Ecuador defends US operation that sank vessels linked to drug trafficking

Ecuador has defended a US operation that resulted in the sinking of three vessels accused of being involved in drug-trafficking activities in the Eastern Pacific. On Friday, Ecuador’s government stated that the interception and sinking of the Ecuadorian vessels were part of joint investigations with Washington aimed at targeting drug-smuggling operations associated with criminal gangs. Ecuadorian Interior Minister John Reimberg informed broadcaster Teleamazonas that the vessels were used as refueling points for speedboats transporting drugs north towards Mexico and the United States. "This is work carried out through international cooperation," Reimberg said. The US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) supported Reimberg’s assertion, stating that it successfully interdicted a vessel functioning as a floating refueling station for illicit drug trafficking operations linked to the Los Choneros gang. SOUTHCOM indicated that individuals removed from the vessel would be safely transferred to Ecuadorian authorities, and after clearance, the US forces sank the vessel. A video shared by SOUTHCOM showed US forces boarding a vessel before it was destroyed at sea, although the time and location of the video have not been independently verified. Relatives of some crew members have accused the US military of acting without evidence, asserting that the men aboard the boats were fishermen. The wife of one crew member told Reuters that the men were fishing when US forces boarded and that no drugs were found, although her account has not been independently verified. The Ecuadorian navy reported receiving 28 crew members from the vessel and another boat that was sunk on Wednesday, with the crew arriving in Manta, Ecuador’s main fishing port, aboard a local coastguard vessel. On Friday, a group of individuals awaited news of their relatives who were on the boats targeted in the recent operations, according to AFP. These incidents are part of the Trump administration’s campaign against maritime drug trafficking, which has raised concerns in Latin America regarding the use of air attacks and lethal force in international waters. SOUTHCOM confirmed a previous attack on a “low-profile” vessel that resulted in two fatalities on August 23, and another US strike killed four individuals two days later, with no victims identified in either incident. Trump has stated that the US is in a “non-international armed conflict” with drug-trafficking organizations, according to an unreleased memo obtained by US media.