U.S. forces on Monday sank a floating refueling vessel used by an Ecuadorian organized crime ring in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) announced. The vessel was involved with the Los Choneros narco-terrorist organization.
Forces with Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTFWH) interdicted the refueling station, which was used for “at-sea drug trafficking operations.” Following the interdiction, personnel were removed from the vessel and are to be handed over to Ecuadorian authorities. Once the boat was cleared, U.S. forces sank it.
JTFWH was activated by SOUTHCOM in August to counter threats, strengthen regional security, and respond to crises in the Western Hemisphere. The U.S. State Department recently designated the Los Choneros cartel as a foreign terrorist organization. The group's members have been accused of attacking and threatening public officials, security personnel, judges, prosecutors, and journalists in Ecuador. According to the State Department, their objective is to control drug trafficking routes through Ecuador by terrorizing the population.
In July, U.S. and Ecuadorian authorities cooperated to extradite Fito Macias, a leader of Los Choneros, from Ecuador to the United States.