• U.S. sinks criminal vessel
  • Los Choneros lose supply chain
  • Operation occurred near Ecuador

The United States and Ecuadorian authorities intercepted and sank a vessel that allegedly served as a supply point for boats linked to Los Choneros.

The operation took place on Friday in international waters near Ecuador and targeted a ship that, according to Southern Command, supplied fuel to vessels used to transport drugs.

U.S. personnel deployed from the USS San Antonio boarded the vessel and detained its occupants before proceeding to destroy it, according to official information.

Southern Command assured that the action represented a blow to the infrastructure that allows maritime routes used by criminal organizations in the hemisphere to remain operational.

U.S. Sinks Vessel Linked to Los Choneros in Ecuador

Los Choneros are considered one of the most important and oldest criminal organizations in Ecuador, with a presence inside and outside the country’s prisons.

The administration of President Donald Trump accuses the Ecuadorian group of maintaining ties with Mexican cartels involved in drug trafficking to the United States.

The operation is relevant because it was not directed solely against a boat that allegedly transported narcotics, but against a piece of the infrastructure used to keep those vessels operational.

Eliminating a floating fuel station could make prolonged displacements more difficult and force criminal organizations to modify part of their maritime operations.

This is How the USS San Antonio Operation Unfolded Near Ecuador

Southern Command reported that personnel deployed on the USS San Antonio located and boarded the vessel with the collaboration of Ecuadorian authorities.

During the intervention, the people on board were detained. Subsequently, the involved forces proceeded to sink the ship in a controlled manner.

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED: Trump surprises with new role outside the White House and sets his sights on Chicago

A video released by Southern Command itself shows part of the operation and the destruction of the vessel after its occupants were removed.

Washington described the action as a direct attack on the logistical chain that sustains the operations of drug-trafficking organizations in the Western Hemisphere.

U.S. Intensifies Maritime Operations Against Drug Trafficking

The intervention near Ecuador adds to a broader U.S. campaign to pursue vessels and structures related to international drug trafficking.

The previous Tuesday, the U.S. Navy attacked another vessel in the Caribbean that, according to authorities, participated in narcotics smuggling activities.

Four people died during that action, bringing the number of reported deaths in U.S. operations developed in international waters within this campaign to 219.

The offensive now focuses not only on those who transport the drugs but also on the maritime infrastructure that allows criminal organizations to extend their routes and keep their vessels operational.

Sources: Efe, RPP Noticias.