“Floating Refueling Station” – US Blows Up Vessel Linked To Drug Traffickers
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U.S. military forces have intercepted and sunk a vessel in the Eastern Pacific that officials say was being used as a floating refueling station to support drug trafficking operations linked to Ecuador’s Los Choneros criminal organization.
U.S. Southern Command says the operation took place September 2 in international waters and was carried out in coordination with the Ecuadorian government. Marines and sailors launched from the USS San Antonio boarded, searched and cleared the vessel before transferring individuals found aboard to Ecuadorian authorities. The vessel was then sunk after the operation was completed.
On Sept. 2, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, and in coordination and collaboration with the Government of Ecuador, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) successfully interdicted a vessel operating as a floating refueling station in support… pic.twitter.com/io55pvWff0
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) September 2, 2026
The U.S. military on Wednesday intercepted and sank a vessel in the Eastern Pacific that it said was supporting a “narco-terrorist” organization, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM).
SOUTHCOM said the operation targeted a vessel tied to Los Choneros, which it described as a violent narco-terrorist organization.
“On Sept. 2, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, and in coordination and collaboration with the Government of Ecuador, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) successfully interdicted a vessel operating as a floating refueling station in support of illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in international waters of the Eastern Pacific,” SOUTHCOM said in a statement.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel was operating in support of the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization,” the military added.
This was part of “Operation Southern Spear,” which launched a year ago.
The U.S. military launched “Operation Southern Spear” a year ago, with President Trump arguing that Washington is effectively at war with drug cartels operating out of Latin America.
More than 200 people have been killed in strikes in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean since then, according to a tally by AFP.
…
Ecuador’s right-wing President Daniel Noboa is one of Mr. Trump’s closest allies in Latin America.
In March, Ecuador joined his “Shield of the Americas,” a U.S.-led coalition to combat drug trafficking in the region.
