The United States has announced new sanctions against 15 individuals and entities in Ecuador, along with 10 vessels, due to their involvement in a suspected maritime cocaine trafficking operation. The Treasury Department revealed that a network, linked to Ecuadorian organizations Los Choneros and Los Lobos, used fishing vessels from Manta, Ecuador, to transport thousands of kilograms of cocaine monthly.
This operation supplies Mexican cartels with cocaine that is then distributed in the U.S. The vessels reportedly refueled and supported smaller boats transporting the drugs through the eastern Pacific toward Mexico, where cartels such as the Sinaloa cartel and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación handled the distribution.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent emphasized their collaboration with law enforcement to disrupt cartel activities and protect U.S. borders.
Sanctioned individuals include members of the Mero family, alleged to have operated the fishing company Arcasdenoe S.A. They are accused of coordinating fuel, food, and medical support for cocaine shipments. Additional Ecuadorian nationals have been named for allegedly managing significant cocaine operations and running front companies.
The 10 vessels identified were allegedly used for logistical cover, detection avoidance, and, in some cases, direct cocaine transport. These sanctions build on the 2025 terrorist designations of Los Choneros and Los Lobos by the State Department and previous Treasury actions.
The announcement is part of Operation Pacific Viper, launched by the U.S. Coast Guard in 2025. This campaign has confiscated over 225,000 pounds of cocaine in the eastern Pacific by mid-2026.
Under the sanctions, U.S. assets of the designated individuals and entities are frozen. U.S. citizens are generally prohibited from conducting business with them. Violations incur civil or criminal penalties, and foreign financial institutions involved with sanctioned individuals may face secondary sanctions.
This action highlights coordination among the Homeland Security Task Force, the DEA, U.S. Southern Command, Naval Intelligence, and the Coast Guard. The State Department noted that these operations generate billions for cartels responsible for a significant portion of deadly drugs entering U.S. communities.
The department stated its commitment to using all available tools to dismantle these profit-driven cartels.
Earlier in the year, U.S. commandos joined Ecuadorian forces in a mission targeting a criminal hub linked to Los Choneros. In 2024, Los Lobos was identified as Ecuador’s largest drug trafficking group, significantly contributing to ongoing violence in the country.