American forces sent another narco-terrorist support operation to the bottom of the Eastern Pacific this weekend, marking the third such strike against a violent Ecuadorian crime syndicate in just over a week.
United States Southern Command announced Saturday that Joint Task Force-Western Hemisphere sunk a multi-vessel refueling station after intelligence confirmed the floating operation was providing logistical support to Los Choneros, a criminal organization responsible for drug trafficking, extortion, and robbery across the region.
“JTF-WHEM continues to conduct precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere,” the command stated.
The crew members aboard the vessels were removed before the sinking and transferred to Ecuadorian authorities, SOUTHCOM confirmed.
This wasn’t an isolated strike. The task force conducted nearly identical operations on Wednesday and August 28th, systematically targeting the supply chain that keeps cartel boats running in international waters. The pattern suggests American military leadership has identified these refueling stations as critical chokepoints in the drug trade.
Los Choneros operates out of Ecuador’s Manabi Province, centered around the city of Chone, which gives the organization its name. SOUTHCOM pulled no punches in describing the group, labeling them a “violent narco-terrorist organization” in its official statement.
The newly constituted Joint Task Force-Western Hemisphere emerged from the previous Joint Task Force-Southern Spear, which built an aggressive track record against drug traffickers before the transition. That earlier operation saw dozens of alleged drug boats destroyed and resulted in the deaths of hundreds of purported drug traffickers.
JTF-WHEM operates in coordination with the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, known as A3C, a 19-nation alliance dedicated to crushing criminal networks threatening stability throughout the Western Hemisphere. The coalition represents a significant multinational commitment to securing the region against cartel influence.
The rapid pace of operations in recent days signals that American military commanders aren’t simply reacting to individual targets. They’re executing a deliberate campaign to choke off the maritime infrastructure that allows cartels to move product across vast stretches of ocean.
Refueling stations like the one destroyed Saturday allow drug-running vessels to operate far from shore for extended periods, making them harder to track and intercept. By eliminating these floating gas stations, American forces are shrinking the operational range of cartel boats and forcing traffickers into riskier, shorter routes closer to coastlines where they’re more vulnerable to interdiction.
