Key facts
- US forces have destroyed at least eight Ecuadorian fishing boats in international waters near Ecuador in recent weeks.
- US forces removed crews before sinking the vessels.
- US Southern Command stated intelligence confirmed the Don Rufo was used as a 'floating refuelling station' for drug-carrying speedboats.
- Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa supports these operations, calling them 'joint operations'.
- Donald Trump compared drug trafficking operations to actions against ISIS, stating those involved 'should be killed, exiled or detained as enemy combatants'.
- Human rights organizations describe the airstrikes as extrajudicial killings, with a UN rapporteur finding 'reasonable grounds to believe' they constitute 'crimes against humanity'.
US forces have destroyed at least eight Ecuadorian fishing boats in international waters near Ecuador in recent weeks, a tactic that has drawn criticism from human rights organizations and raised concerns about extrajudicial killings. The operations, which involve removing crews before sinking the vessels, are conducted with the support of Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa and are framed by the US as part of a new strategy against drug trafficking.
On September 8, the fishing boat Don Rufo was intercepted by a US patrol vessel. Its captain, Mero Calderón, stated that armed US forces boarded the boat, handcuffed and blindfolded the crew, and then blew up their vessel. While Calderón and five other crew members were handed over to local authorities, ten others were left adrift in smaller boats and were rescued by the Ecuadorian navy on September 10.
US Southern Command released a video of the operation, claiming intelligence confirmed the Don Rufo was a 'floating refuelling station' for drug-carrying speedboats. This pattern of operations has been occurring for over two weeks, with the Ecuadorian government referring to them as 'joint operations'.
President Noboa has adopted a strict approach to combating gangs, issuing states of emergency and expanding the military's role. Despite this, violence has persisted, and human rights abuses have been reported, including the case of four boys who disappeared and were later found dead. Noboa has signed an agreement with the White House authorizing joint operations and granting US military personnel immunity from prosecution.
Analysts suggest this marks a new phase in the US military strategy against drug trafficking in Latin America, with Ecuador serving as a testing ground. Donald Trump has advocated for a harsh approach, comparing drug traffickers to ISIS and calling for their detention as enemy combatants. Human rights groups and a UN special rapporteur have described the airstrikes as potential crimes against humanity, noting that available data show no impact on the volume of cocaine entering the country. Many identified victims were either innocent or poor individuals at the bottom of trafficking networks.