U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) forces have once again disrupted the logistical operations of drug trafficking networks in the Eastern Pacific. On Monday, they intercepted and sank what was believed to be a floating replenishment station associated with the narcoterrorist group Los Choneros. This marks the fourth such action in under two weeks.
The Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM), operating under SOUTHCOM's directive, boarded the vessel, evacuated its crew, and conducted a thorough search before ultimately sinking it.
Individuals found on the vessel were handed over to Ecuadorian authorities, according to the official statement.
"Intelligence confirmed the vessel's connection to the violent narcoterrorist organization Los Choneros," stated SOUTHCOM in their release. "After searching the ship and removing the crew, U.S. forces proceeded to sink it."
SOUTHCOM emphasized that JTF-WHEM is "continuing to conduct precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks that fuel drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere."
Escalating Operations Against Drug Networks
This operation is part of a series of rapid strikes. On September 5, the same task force had destroyed another multi-vessel floating station linked to Los Choneros, eliminating both the main ship and its support vessels.
A day earlier, forces deployed from the USS San Antonio had sunk a drug-laden speedboat belonging to the same group. The initial strike in this sequence occurred on August 28.
Strategic Importance of Floating Stations
Floating replenishment stations are vital for maritime drug trafficking logistics. They allow fast boats to refuel at sea, extending their operational range and reducing the risk of detection by avoiding ports.
These operations fall under the American Coalition Against the Cartels (A3C) and JTF-WHEM, initiatives that have ramped up U.S. military presence in the Eastern Pacific since mid-2026. The USS San Antonio arrived in the Ecuadorian port of Manta on August 24 as part of this deployment.
Los Choneros: A Notorious Criminal Network
Los Choneros emerged in the late 1990s in Chone, Manabí province, and has grown into one of Ecuador's most powerful criminal organizations. It maintains documented ties with the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG, operating cocaine routes to Mexico, the United States, and Europe.
In January 2024, Ecuador's government under President Daniel Noboa declared them a terrorist organization amid an internal armed conflict following a wave of violence, including a live television channel assault. In September 2025, the U.S. Department of State similarly designated them as a foreign terrorist organization.
Ecuador has publicly supported these sinking operations as joint anti-drug efforts, according to Al Jazeera reports.
The group's most notorious leader, José Adolfo Macías Villamar, known as "Fito," was recaptured in Ecuador in June 2025 and extradited to the United States in July to face federal charges of drug trafficking, arms trafficking, and organized crime. Despite these setbacks, the organization continues its operations in the Pacific.
Frequently Asked Questions about Los Choneros and U.S. Military Operations
What is the significance of floating replenishment stations in drug trafficking?
Floating replenishment stations allow drug traffickers to refuel their fast boats at sea, extending their operational range and minimizing the risk of detection by avoiding port visits.
Who are Los Choneros?
Los Choneros is a powerful criminal organization from Ecuador, with connections to major cartels like the Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG. They are involved in extensive cocaine trafficking operations.
How has the U.S. responded to Los Choneros?
The U.S. has designated Los Choneros as a foreign terrorist organization and actively conducts military operations to dismantle their logistical networks, particularly in the Pacific.