CIA behind attacks on Ecuador fishing boats, says The Washington Post

The U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) may have been involved in attacks targeting Ecuadorian fishing vessels earlier in 2026, according to a report by The Washington Post citing an anonymous source. These incidents included the disappearance of eight individuals from the fishing boat Fiorella in January and drone attacks on the vessels La Negra Francisca Duarte II and Don Maca near the Galápagos Islands in March.

The source described these events as part of a "covert action" program, a type of secret operation abroad authorized by the president where the U.S. government's role is not publicly acknowledged. However, the newspaper cautioned that the full extent of the CIA's involvement remains unclear. This alleged operation is distinct from the ongoing U.S. campaign against drug trafficking in the Caribbean and Pacific.

Ecuadorian authorities have not confirmed the CIA's alleged role, and the Pentagon and U.S. Coast Guard have denied any involvement, according to a July report by Human Rights Watch (HRW). HRW's report detailed interviews with thirteen survivors who claimed they were detained on a boat by armed individuals in military-style uniforms, identified as U.S. citizens, after the attacks. Survivors also reported drone attacks and subsequent detention before being returned to Ecuador without explanation.

Flight data indicated a U.S.-registered aircraft flew from El Salvador towards the fishing boats before each incident, landing in a military zone at Ilopango International Airport. The Washington Post suggests this pattern of flights could link the aircraft to the CIA's secret program, despite Federal Aviation Administration records showing the plane's registration. Survivors maintain they have no ties to drug trafficking.