How a network moved up to 40 tons of cocaine monthly from Ecuador

A sophisticated drug trafficking network operating from Ecuador, allegedly moving 30 to 40 tons of cocaine monthly, has been targeted by U.S. sanctions. The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctioned eight individuals and seven entities based in Ecuador on August 20, 2026. OFAC also identified 10 fishing vessels as blocked property within this structure.

These fishing boats, operating under the guise of legitimate fishing activities near Manta, Ecuador, allegedly supplied speedboats used to transport cocaine from South America to Mexico for onward distribution in the United States. According to OFAC, the network facilitated deliveries of fuel, food, and medical assistance, while also monitoring law enforcement vessels.

Julio Javier Mero Franco is identified as a key operator responsible for coordinating the transport of approximately 30 to 40 tons of cocaine each month from Ecuador towards Central America and Mexico. Other operators reportedly moved thousands of kilograms from the Ecuadorian coast. The fishing vessels provided crucial logistical support, including fuel, food, and medical services, and also served to detect and monitor law enforcement presence.

The investigation links members of this structure to Ecuadorian organizations Los Choneros and Los Lobos, which U.S. authorities say have connections to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel and Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). Security expert Hernán Moreano explains that Ecuador serves as a transit point for cocaine originating from Colombia and Peru, destined for global markets including the U.S., Europe, and Asia. He notes that the Ecuadorian groups play cooperative logistical roles for the Mexican cartels, with the latter investing in speedboats alongside Ecuadorian criminal groups.