The United States military continued its efforts on Labor Day to rid the Western Hemisphere of narcotic-trafficking operations that smuggle drugs into the country. U.S. Southern Command announced on Monday that it sank an alleged “refueling vessel” of the Los Choneros terrorist organization in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
The Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere “interdicted” the suspected drug-trafficking boat after receiving intelligence reports linking it to Los Choneros. It was the fourth such vessel Southern Command had sunk in September and the fifth since Aug. 28, with all of them being discovered in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
“Intelligence confirmed the vessel’s involvement with the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization,” read a press release issued by Southern Command. “Individuals removed from the vessel will be transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. After clearing the vessel and disembarking the crew, U.S. forces sank it.”
On Sept. 5, the Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere discovered a “multi-vessel floating refueling station” that was engaged in “illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations.” And, just as JTF-WHEM had done with the previous Los Choneros refueling vessels, it sank the boat. Individuals aboard were detained and eventually transferred to Ecuadorian authorities.
Southern Command forces touted its latest efforts as “precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.”
On Sept. 2, U.S. Southern Command Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan explained the necessity of such operations in eliminating drug cartel efforts to smuggle narcotics into the country and other parts of the Western Hemisphere. He said U.S. forces were “on watch” against such illegal drug-trafficking efforts operating in the seas.
“We are taking decisive action to dismantle and destroy sophisticated logistics networks used by narco-terrorists to traffic drugs and spread violence throughout the Western Hemisphere,” said Donovan. “This operation demonstrated the elite capabilities and precision of Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere, which is on watch in the region to apply total systemic friction on these networks.”
As the Washington Examiner previously reported, Los Choneros is a dangerous crime syndicate that originated in Ecuador in the 1990s. It has wreaked havoc on South American countries, committing a wave of violent crimes such as kidnapping, human trafficking, arms trafficking, and, of course, drug trafficking. Los Choneros has also regularly trafficked cocaine into the U.S. In September 2025, the Trump administration designated Los Choneros as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist.
“The United States, in partnership with Ecuador and its President Daniel Noboa, will continue to protect our two nations by keeping illicit drugs off our streets and disrupting the revenue streams funding drug cartels’ terrorism and criminal activity,” the State Department announced at the time. ”Today’s action further demonstrates the Trump administration’s unwavering commitment to eliminating cartels and ensuring the safety of the American people.”