On Sept. 7, under the direction of #SOUTHCOM, Joint... Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces successfully interdicted a floating refueling station supporting illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific. Intelligence confirmed the vessel's involvement with the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization. Individuals removed from the vessel will be transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. After clearing the vessel and disembarking the crew, U.S. forces sank it. JTF-WHEM continues to conduct precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. #A3C #JTFWHEM Department of War 🇺🇸 U.S. Marines U.S. Navy US Embassy Ecuador Ministerio de Defensa Nacional del Ecuador 24th Marine Expeditionary Unitshow more

On September 8, under the direction of #SOUTHCOM, Joint... Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces successfully interdicted a floating refueling station supporting illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific. Intelligence confirmed the vessel's involvement with the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization. Individuals removed from the vessel have been transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. After clearing the vessel and disembarking the crew, U.S. forces sank it. JTF-WHEM continues to conduct precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. #A3C #JTFWHEM Department of War 🇺🇸 U.S. Marines U.S. Navy US Embassy Ecuador Ministerio de Defensa Nacional del Ecuador 24th Marine Expeditionary Unitshow more

On Sept. 5, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM, Joint... Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces successfully interdicted a multi-vessel floating refueling station in support of illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were operating in support of the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization. Individuals removed from the main vessel have been transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. Once the main vessel was cleared and the crew disembarked, U.S. forces sank it and the attached support vessels. JTF-WHEM continues to conduct precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. #A3C #JTFWHEM Department of War 🇺🇸 U.S. Marines U.S. Navy US Embassy Ecuador Ministerio de Defensa Nacional del Ecuador 24th Marine Expeditionary Unitshow more

On Sept. 15, under the direction of #SOUTHCOM, Joint... Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces successfully interdicted a floating refueling station supporting illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific. Intelligence confirmed the vessel's involvement with the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization. Individuals removed from the vessel will be transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. After clearing the vessel and disembarking the crew, U.S. forces sank it. JTF-WHEM continues to conduct precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. "We are exerting unrelenting pressure on these narco-terrorists and hurting them where it counts: dismantling their intricate networks, disrupting their sophisticated logistics, and dealing a blow to their finances. This is what total systemic friction looks like." – SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan #A3C #JTFWHEM Department of War 🇺🇸 Secretary of War Pete Hegseth U.S. Marines U.S. Navy US Embassy Ecuador Ministerio de Defensa Nacional del Ecuador 24th Marine Expeditionary Unitshow more

U.S. Southern Command: "On Sept. 5, at the direction... of SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces successfully interdicted a multi-vessel floating refueling station in support of illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific. Intelligence confirmed the vessels were operating in support of the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization. Individuals removed from the main vessel have been transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. Once the main vessel was cleared and the crew disembarked, U.S. forces sank it and the attached support vessels. JTF-WHEM continues to conduct precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere."show more

On Sept. 16, under the direction of #SOUTHCOM, Joint... Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces successfully interdicted a floating refueling station supporting illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific. Intelligence confirmed the vessel's involvement with the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization. Individuals removed from the vessel have been transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. After clearing the vessel and disembarking the crew, U.S. forces sank it. JTF-WHEM continues to conduct precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. "Alongside our Ecuadorian partners, we are relentlessly pursuing narco-terrorists who prey on our citizens, undermine hemispheric security, and leave death and suffering in their wake. This deliberate, lawful, and precise operation saves lives and makes our citizens—from Ecuador to the United States—safer." - SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan #A3C #JTFWHEM Department of War 🇺🇸 Secretary of War Pete Hegseth U.S. Marines U.S. Navy US Embassy Ecuador Ministerio de Defensa Nacional del Ecuador 24th Marine Expeditionary Unitshow more

According to a release from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM),... at the direction of SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) interdicted a vessel in the Eastern Pacific operating as a refueling station supporting illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations for the Los Choneros designated terrorist organization. The individuals on board were apprehended and turned over to the Ecuadorian authorities and the vessel and its attached support vessels were destroyed.show more

According to a release from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM),... at the direction of SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) conducted an operation where they interdicted a vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean that was being used by the narco terrorist organization, Los Choneros, as a floating refueling station. The station was in direct support of illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations. After apprehending the individuals on board and turning them over to Ecuadorian authorities, the vessel was destroyed.show more

U.S. Southern Command has released video showing Joint Task... Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces interdicting and destroying a floating refueling station allegedly supporting narco-trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific. According to SOUTHCOM, U.S. forces boarded and cleared the vessel, removed the personnel aboard and transferred them to Ecuadorian authorities before sinking the vessel. Intelligence reportedly linked the refueling station to Los Choneros, an Ecuadorian criminal organization designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization. This is the second operation of this type. JTF-WHEM conducted a similar interdiction on Aug. 28, when Marines and Sailors operating from USS San Antonio (LPD 17) boarded a suspected floating refueling station, removed those aboard, transferred them to Ecuador and then sank the vessel. The video released by SOUTHCOM today shows what appears to be the USS San Antonio operating nearby. The latest operation is part of an increasingly active U.S.-Ecuadorian campaign targeting the maritime logistics network supporting drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific.show more

On Aug. 28, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM Commander... Gen. Francis L. Donovan, and in coordination and collaboration with the Government of Ecuador, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) successfully interdicted a vessel operating as a floating refueling station in support of illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in international waters of the Eastern Pacific. Intelligence confirmed the vessel, previously identified and targeted under Department of the Treasury sanctions, was operating in support of the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization. U.S. Marines and Sailors, launched from USS San Antonio (LPD 17), interdicted, boarded, searched, and cleared the vessel without incident. Individuals removed from the vessel were safely escorted to Ecuador. Once cleared, U.S. forces sank the vessel. This interdiction cuts off a critical node in the traffickers' logistics chain and advances the goals of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) and JTF-WHEM to dismantle narco-terrorist networks. The Department of War 🇺🇸 and the A3C remain unwavering in their mission to defeat narco-terrorists in the Western Hemisphere and defend our homeland. "Today's operation is a stark example of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition's power to dismantle the sophisticated, clandestine narco-terrorist tactics and capabilities that have enabled the trafficking of dangerous drugs destined for American communities. Working together with our Ecuadorian partners, our coalition dealt a decisive blow to a narco-terrorist operation responsible for moving significant amounts of drugs through the region. Together with our regional partners, we are committed to defeating narco-terrorists in the Western Hemisphere." - #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan #A3C #JTFWHEM Secretary of War Pete Hegseth U.S. Marines U.S. Navy US Embassy Ecuador Ministerio de Defensa Nacional del Ecuador 24th Marine Expeditionary Unitshow more

U.S. forces intercept and sink a vessel accused of... operating as a floating refueling station for drug traffickers in the Eastern Pacific. U.S. Southern Command says intelligence linked the vessel to the Los Choneros narco-terrorist organization. The crew was removed before U.S. forces sank the vessel. Those aboard have been transferred to Ecuadorian authorities as U.S. forces continue targeting narco-trafficking networks across the Western Hemisphere.show more

According to a release from U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM),... at the direction of SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) conducted an interdiction of a vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean that was acting as a refueling station in support of illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations for the Los Choneros narco-terrorist organization. After the individuals on board were turned over to Ecuadorian authorities, the vessel was destroyed Following the lull in such operations, after the twin earthquakes in Venezuela and subsequent U.S. support operations there, the tempo of U.S. SOUTHCOM operations against designated organizations in known drug trafficking maritime lanes has picked up significantly.show more

NOW: U.S. forces sink an alleged floating refueling station... in the Eastern Pacific after officials say it was being used to support illicit drug trafficking operations tied to the Los Choneros narco-terrorist organization. SOUTHCOM says forces intercepted the multi-vessel operation on Sept. 5, removed individuals from the main vessel and transferred them to Ecuadorian authorities. Once the crew was off and the vessel was cleared, U.S. forces sent the main ship and its attached support vessels to the bottom. The operation is part of an ongoing push to dismantle trafficking networks operating across the Western Hemisphere.show more

U.S. forces board and sink a vessel accused of... operating as a floating refueling station for drug traffickers in the Eastern Pacific. U.S. Southern Command says intelligence linked the vessel to the Los Choneros narco-terrorist organization, with forces intercepting and clearing it without incident in coordination with Ecuador. Those removed from the vessel will be transferred to Ecuadorian authorities, according to SOUTHCOM.show more

A suspected floating refueling station for maritime drug traffickers... is now at the bottom of the eastern Pacific after U.S. forces move in. Marines and sailors from the USS San Antonio board and clear the vessel without incident before transferring those on board to Ecuador. U.S. forces then sink the ship. U.S. Southern Command says the vessel was supporting Los Choneros, one of Ecuador's most powerful criminal organizations, in illicit drug trafficking operations.show more

On May 30, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander... Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed. Department of War 🇺🇸 #OpSouthernSpearshow more

On June 3, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander... Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed. Department of War 🇺🇸 #OpSouthernSpearshow more

On June 18, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander... Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed. Department of War 🇺🇸 #OpSouthernSpearshow more

On May 27, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander... Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Two male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed. Department of War 🇺🇸 #OpSouthernSpearshow more

On March 8, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander... Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Six male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed. Department of War 🇺🇸 #OpSouthernSpearshow more

On April 15, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM commander... Gen. Francis L. Donovan, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations. Intelligence confirmed the vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations. Three male narco-terrorists were killed during this action. No U.S. military forces were harmed. Department of War 🇺🇸 #OpSouthernSpearshow more