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U.S. Southern Command Sinks Floating Refueling Station Linked to Los Choneros Narco-Terrorist Organization

The U.S. Southern Command announced that Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere forces sank a floating refueling station in the Eastern Pacific on September 8, 2026. The vessel supported illicit drug trafficking operations and was linked to the Los Choneros, a violent narco-terrorist organization based in Ecuador. U.S. forces interdicted the vessel, removed the individuals on board, and transferred them to Ecuadorian authorities. This action is part of a series of operations to dismantle logistical networks fueling drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. The sunken vessel is the fifth boat targeted by U.S. forces in less than two weeks. The Los Choneros group engages in various criminal activities, including kidnappings, hired killings, and the smuggling of weapons and drugs. The administration is currently pursuing deals with allied nations to extend its military operations against criminal groups across multiple Latin American countries. Colombia, Guatemala, and Honduras have agreed to allow joint military operations on their soil, while Ecuador launched similar missions with the U.S. in March.

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