On the 8th local time, US Southern Command said Joint Task Force–Western Hemisphere (JTF‑WHEM) intercepted a vessel in the eastern Pacific that was supplying fuel to illicit maritime drug-trafficking operations. Intelligence linked the ship to Ecuadorian criminal group Los Choneros. Persons removed from the vessel were handed to Ecuadorian authorities. After clearing the ship and disembarking the crew, US forces sank the vessel.

2026-09-09

On the 8th local time, US Southern Command said Joint Task Force–Western Hemisphere (JTF‑WHEM) intercepted a vessel in the eastern Pacific that was supplying fuel to illicit maritime drug-trafficking operations. Intelligence linked the ship to Ecuadorian criminal group Los Choneros. Persons removed from the vessel were handed to Ecuadorian authorities. After clearing the ship and disembarking the crew, US forces sank the vessel.