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CIA Operation Targeted Ecuador Fishing Boat Under Trump Approval: Report
🇰🇷 South Korea /Conflict & Security

CIA Operation Targeted Ecuador Fishing Boat Under Trump Approval: Report

From Dong-A Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • A report claims a secret CIA operation, approved by then-President Donald Trump, targeted a fishing boat near Ecuador's Galapagos Islands earlier this year.
  • The operation, allegedly part of a drug interdiction effort, involved armed drones and resulted in injuries to at least four individuals.
  • Survivors deny involvement in drug trafficking, and questions remain about the evidence used to justify the attack and its legality under international law.

A secret CIA operation, authorized by then-President Donald Trump, targeted a fishing boat near Ecuador's Galapagos Islands earlier this year, according to a report. The operation was reportedly part of a drug interdiction effort in the region.

The attack in the Galapagos waters earlier this year was part of a secret CIA operation approved by President Trump to crack down on drug trafficking.

— WP reportThe report claims the CIA operation was approved by President Trump.

Reports indicate that three Ecuadorian fishing boats have gone missing or been attacked in Galapagos waters this year. In January, the "Fiorella," with eight crew members, disappeared. In March, the "Negra Francisca Duarte II" and "Don Maca" were attacked by drones. International human rights group Human Rights Watch confirmed survivor accounts of armed drone attacks on these vessels on March 17 and 26.

The two ships were attacked by armed drones on March 17 and 26.

— SurvivorsSurvivors' accounts of the drone attacks were confirmed by Human Rights Watch.

Survivors claim they were simply fishing and denied any involvement in drug trafficking. They reported being transferred to a vessel with armed Americans after the attack, then detained in hoods and handcuffs before being handed over to the Salvadoran coast guard. At least four people were seriously injured in the drone strikes. The U.S. Department of Defense and Coast Guard had previously denied involvement in the attacks or the "Fiorella's" disappearance.

They were transferred to a vessel with armed Americans, detained in hoods and handcuffs, and then handed over to the Salvadoran coast guard.

— SurvivorsSurvivors described their treatment after the drone attacks.

The report raises concerns because clear evidence that the targeted vessels were actually involved in drug smuggling has not been presented. The U.S. has expanded operations to directly strike suspected drug-carrying vessels in Central and South American waters since last year. However, these actions face ongoing controversy regarding their legality under international law and the potential for mistakenly targeting civilians, especially when specific evidence is not publicly disclosed.

They were simply fishing and denied any involvement in drug trafficking.

— SurvivorsSurvivors denied the accusations of drug smuggling.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dong-A Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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