U.S. forces sink floating refueling hub linked to Los Choneros cartel
U.S. Southern Command reported that a vessel used as a sea-borne refueling station for the Los Choneros narco-terror group was boarded, its crew arrested, and the boat sunk in the eastern Pacific.
On Thursday, U.S. Southern Command announced that a boat operating as a floating refueling station for the Los Choneros narco-terror organization was seized and destroyed in the eastern Pacific. Personnel from Littoral Combat Force 24 on the USS San Antonio boarded the vessel, searched it, and apprehended the crew before scuttling the ship without incident. Ecuadorian officials were involved, taking custody of the detained individuals.
Intelligence later confirmed the boat’s role in supporting at-sea cocaine smuggling operations. SOUTHCOM said the strike removes a critical node in the cartel’s supply chain and advances the objectives of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition and Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere. This marks the second such interdiction this week, following a similar sinking the day before.
Why it matters
Disrupting the floating fuel hub hampers a major drug-trafficking network and showcases U.S. cooperation with Ecuador against narco-terrorism.
In this story
