US forces interdicted, boarded, and sank a vessel in international waters of the eastern Pacific linked to the Los Choneros drug cartel on September 2 and 3, 2026 [1] [2]. The vessel served as a floating refueling station for traffickers working with the Ecuadorian gang [3] [2] [1].
The operation was conducted by the US Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere in coordination with Ecuadorian authorities [2] [1]. US Marines and sailors launched from the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) carried out the boarding, search, and sinking of the vessel [2] [1].
Individuals aboard the ship were removed safely and transferred to Ecuador for further action [2] [1]. The Los Choneros cartel has been designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist group by the US since September 2025 [2].
SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis Donovan said, "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." He added, "This operation demonstrated the elite capabilities and precision of Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere, which is on watch in the region to apply total systemic friction on these networks." [1]
The operation targeted the cartel's sophisticated logistics networks that facilitate drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere [2] [1]. After clearing the vessel on September 2, US forces sank it on September 3 and transferred detainees to Ecuadorian authorities [2] [1].
