Ecuador has defended U.S. operations that sank three Ecuadorean vessels, stating they were used as floating refueling points for drug smuggling. Relatives of the crew claim they were fishermen and accuse Washington of human rights violations.
The operations highlight the escalating tactics in the fight against drug trafficking and raise concerns about human rights and potential collateral damage in international waters.
Ecuador has defended the actions of U.S. forces who intercepted and sank three Ecuadorean vessels this week, stating the operations were part of joint investigations aimed at disrupting drug trafficking. Ecuador's Interior Minister, John Reimberg, emphasized that these actions are taken only after thorough investigations to understand the logistics of drug shipments.
The U.S. Southern Command confirmed that the intercepted vessels were serving as refueling stations for the Los Choneros gang, facilitating drug transport to Mexican ports and onward to the United States. Videos of the vessels being destroyed after occupants were removed were posted by the command. These sinkings are part of a broader U.S. military campaign known as Operation Southern Spear, which has reportedly destroyed approximately 70 vessels and resulted in over 220 deaths in the past year.
The Ecuadorean Navy reported that the crews of two of the vessels, totaling 28 individuals, were being transferred to Manta. However, other crew members remained at sea. The U.S. government has claimed responsibility for numerous strikes under Operation Southern Spear, though it has not officially claimed responsibility for three other similar incidents this year involving fishing vessels from Ecuador's Manabi province. These operations have drawn criticism from human rights groups and some Latin American leaders who have labeled the strikes as extrajudicial killings.
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