RismadarVoice Reporters
September 5, 2026
The Ecuadorian government has defended a series of joint operations with the United States that resulted in the interception and destruction of three vessels in the Eastern Pacific accused of aiding drug trafficking networks.
The military action, carried out under an ongoing bilateral counter-narcotics initiative, has sparked criticism from families of the crew members, who maintain the detained men were civilian fishermen.
Ecuadorian Interior Minister John Reimberg confirmed that the maritime strikes were executed following joint intelligence gathering targeting logistical networks linked to organised crime. Reimberg detailed that the targeted vessels served as offshore floating refuelling platforms designed to resupply high-speed boats transporting narcotics northward toward Mexico and the United States.
In an official statement, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) confirmed the interdiction of a floating supply station operated in support of the Los Choneros criminal syndicate. SOUTHCOM reported that all individuals onboard were safely evacuated before U.S. forces scuttled the vessel.
In the coastal port city of Manta, relatives gathered outside local police stations following the return of 28 crew members handed over to Ecuadorian authorities by U.S. forces.
Family members publicly disputed the government characterisation of the operation. Relatives stated that the vessels carried only fish and fishing equipment when boarded by American personnel, accusing law enforcement of executing the sinkings without substantiating evidence.
According to the report, the incident marks the latest engagement in an expanded U.S. counter-narcotics campaign across the Eastern Pacific that relies on maritime strikes and interdictions targeting suspected smuggling craft. Human rights organisations and regional leaders continue to express concern over the reliance on lethal force in international waters.
The detained crew members remain in the custody of Ecuadorian law enforcement in Manta pending judicial review.
