U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said Tuesday that American forces sank another vessel it described as a “floating refueling station” allegedly tied to drug trafficking operations.
“On September 8, under the direction of #SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces successfully interdicted a floating refueling station supporting illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific,” SOUTHCOM noted in a post on X.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel’s involvement with the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization. Individuals removed from the vessel have been transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. After clearing the vessel and disembarking the crew, U.S. forces sank it,” the post continued.
U.S. Southern Command shared video showing U.S. forces sinking the vessel on September 8, 2026. (U.S. Southern Command on X)
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“JTF-WHEM continues to conduct precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere,” SOUTHCOM added.
The announcement marks the latest in a series of SOUTHCOM updates on U.S. operations targeting vessels allegedly used as refueling hubs by Los Choneros, which has been designated a foreign terrorist organization.
“The Ecuador-based gang Los Choneros is a major driver of destabilizing violence in Ecuador,” according to a counterterrorism guide.
“Los Choneros engages in a range of violent and criminal activities, including hired killings; kidnappings; political assassinations; and the smuggling of weapons, explosives, and drugs,” the document notes.
“Los Choneros uses prisons and illegal gold mines as operational bases and cooperates with the Mexico-based Sinaloa Cartel and with Albanian cartels to facilitate drug shipments globally,” the guide states.