The United States sank a ship suspected of contributing to drug trafficking in Ecuador
The American army announced on Wednesday September 2 that it had intercepted and sunk a ship suspected of providing logistical support to the criminal group Los Choneros, involved in drug trafficking in Ecuador, during an operation carried out in coordination with the Ecuadorian government.
This is the second operation carried out in less than a week by Washington and Quito against ships linked to Los Choneros in the Pacific. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa is waging a war against drug trafficking with military support from the United States and has joined the “Shield of the Americas”, an anti-drug coalition led by Donald Trump.
The ship “served as a floating refueling station” for Los Choneros, the US Southern Command said on the social network
Southern Command added that the crew members had “was safely handed over to the Ecuadorian authorities”. “Once the ship was secured, American forces sank it”specified the institution.
Missing fishermen
At the Manta port captaincy on Wednesday, several people were looking for information about their loved ones, fishermen, after having lost contact with them. According to them, crew members reported seeing helicopters and military boats approaching.
“They are fishermen, they suffer to provide for the needs of our homes, of our children. We want answers, we want to hear from them”Olivia Holguin, sister of a boat captain, told Agence France-Presse (AFP). The AFP was unable to verify that these people and the Southern Command were talking about the same ship.
A year ago, the US government launched a campaign of airstrikes against boats suspected of being used for drug trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, which left more than 200 people dead.
The organization Human Rights Watch denounced in July acts of torture and arbitrary detentions as part of the military campaign led by Ecuador and the United States. She also denounced the fact that three boats were allegedly attacked by American forces off the coast of Ecuador between January and March, leaving at least eight missing, although Washington denies any involvement.
