On Saturday, U.S. forces took action near Ecuador, targeting several vessels suspected of aiding drug smuggling operations to the United States. These vessels were believed to function as refueling stations, crucial for the smuggling routes.

An official from the U.S. military confirmed that this was the fourth such interception in the eastern Pacific. Fortunately, there were no casualties involved on either side during this operation.

This mission falls under the initiatives of the U.S. Southern Command, aimed at disrupting narcotics smugglers operating in both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. This campaign commenced over a year ago.

A video shared by the command, responsible for directing military operations in Central and South America, displayed a U.S. military vessel. An 11-meter rigid-hull inflatable boat approached a larger civilian craft, which had fuel jugs on its open deck. The footage also showed a Marine Corps helicopter hovering nearby.

The video depicted the inflatable boat leaving the frame, followed by an explosion erupting from the larger vessel’s bow.

Individuals on the refueling vessel were transferred to Ecuadorean government custody. Ecuadorean officials participated in the operation, the official revealed, speaking on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on public disclosure.

The operation received support from personnel aboard the amphibious ship U.S.S. San Antonio. The crew launched helicopters that targeted other accompanying vessels, successfully sinking them, as per the official’s account.

Southern Command, based in South Florida, identified Los Choneros as the group managing the refueling operation. The State Department had labeled Los Choneros a “foreign terrorist organization” shortly after launching this campaign against suspected smuggling vessels on September 2, 2025.

The U.S. military reported conducting 68 operations against supposed drug smuggling vessels in the region, resulting in 227 fatalities, according to a New York Times analysis.