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🇦🇷 Argentina /Conflict & Security

US sinks third suspected drug boat off Ecuador in one week

From Clarín · () Spanish

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

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • The US military sank a third vessel off Ecuador in one week over alleged links to drug trafficking, according to US officials.
  • Ecuadorian authorities said 28 crew members from two vessels were brought to Manta, while nine others were returning aboard another boat, with no deaths reported in this week’s operations.
  • Fishing families and Human Rights Watch have raised concerns about the safety and whereabouts of people affected by US operations, while Washington denies involvement in earlier disappearances.

A third vessel has been sunk off Ecuador in a week, intensifying fear among fishing families in Manta and criticism from human rights groups over US anti-drug operations.

The US Southern Command said the latest boat allegedly served as a “refueling station” for Los Choneros, an Ecuadorian gang that it says has ties to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel. A video released by the command showed the vessel being intercepted by a helicopter and a boat before exploding and sinking in a column of smoke. The command said the crew had been transferred safely to Ecuadorian authorities.

We are all afraid that something might happen to us.

· Fausto SozaThe Manta fisherman described his fear after the US operations and said he had stopped going to sea.

Two other vessels, also allegedly linked to Los Choneros, were sunk starting the previous Friday. The operations form part of President Donald Trump’s campaign against suspected drug boats in the Pacific and Caribbean. The campaign has included bombardments that have killed more than 200 people, according to the report.

In Manta, where the intercepted boats departed, fishermen and relatives said they had no links to drug trafficking and questioned the operations. “We are all afraid that something might happen to us,” fisherman Fausto Soza said outside the port captaincy. He said he had not gone to sea for two months because of fear.

I don’t even know what to do anymore. I don’t eat, I don’t sleep thinking about my son. I want them to return him to me.

· María CuevaCueva spoke about her 25-year-old son, who remains missing after earlier alleged attacks.

Human Rights Watch said in July that three other Ecuadorian vessels were allegedly attacked by US forces between January and March, leaving at least eight people missing. Washington denies involvement in those disappearances. María Cueva, whose 25-year-old son remains missing, said through tears, “I don’t even know what to do anymore. I don’t eat, I don’t sleep thinking about my son. I want them to return him to me.”

The Ecuadorian Navy said it transported 28 crew members from the vessels sunk on Wednesday and Thursday to Manta. Nine more were returning aboard another vessel. The news brought some relief to families. “Our fishermen are coming. They are alive, they are well,” said Ginger Reyes, whose husband is captain of one of the boats. President Daniel Noboa, backed by Trump, is pursuing a direct campaign against organized crime, but Ecuador’s violence continues. The country recorded South America’s highest homicide rate last year, at 51 per 100,000 inhabitants.

Our fishermen are coming. They are alive, they are well.

· Ginger ReyesReyes described the relief among families after Ecuadorian authorities said crew members were being returned.
About this summary

Originally published by Clarín 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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