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🇵🇾 Paraguay /Conflict & Security

28 Crew Members From Two Vessels Sunk by US Forces Reach Ecuador

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

Newswire Named sources Ongoing story
  • Twenty-eight crew members from two Ecuadorian boats arrived in Manta after US forces intercepted and sank the vessels in the Pacific in coordination with Ecuador.
  • US Southern Command alleged that the boats supported Los Choneros' drug-trafficking operations, while relatives said the men were fishermen.
  • Eight other crew members from one vessel remained en route, and relatives of eight fishermen missing since January also joined the protest.

Twenty-eight men from two boats intercepted and sunk by US forces in the Pacific arrived in Ecuador's port city of Manta on Friday, as relatives gathered to demand information and reject allegations linking them to drug trafficking.

The Ecuadorian Navy said nine people from the Conquista II and 19 from the OM2 reached port aboard a coast guard vessel at about 3 p.m. local time. Authorities carried out the corresponding procedures after their arrival, the Navy said, without providing further details. Local media reported that the men were taken to a police facility. Eight more people from the Conquista II were still traveling to port aboard another vessel.

US forces detained the 28 men between Wednesday and Thursday after intercepting the boats. US Southern Command alleged that the vessels served as floating refueling stations and supported drug-trafficking operations by Los Choneros, Ecuador's oldest criminal group.

Interior Minister John Reimberg said the operation followed an investigation. He told Teleamazonas that the boats provided logistical support to smaller vessels carrying drugs toward Mexican ports and eventually the United States, with international cooperation involved.

Relatives outside Manta's Port Captaincy disputed that account. One family member told reporters, "What does President Daniel Noboa want? For the entire fishing community to go out and steal because there is no work? This is the family's only livelihood." Protesters held signs reading, "No to the abuse of our fishermen" and "They are innocent, they are not criminals."

Relatives of eight Ecuadorian fishermen missing since January also joined the gathering. Amnesty International and other organizations have called for an investigation into alleged US involvement in that disappearance and in two other attacks on Ecuadorian boats near the Galápagos Islands in March.

What does President Daniel Noboa want? For the entire fishing community to go out and steal because there is no work? This is the family's only livelihood.

· Unidentified relativeA family member protesting outside Manta's Port Captaincy defended the detained men as fishermen.
About this summary

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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