The U.S. military has intercepted and sunk a vessel that it said was being used as a floating refueling station to support drug trafficking operations at sea linked to Ecuadorian criminal group Los Choneros.
The vessel was intercepted on Sept. 2 in international waters in the Eastern Pacific, the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said.
U.S. Marines and sailors launched from the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) boarded and searched the vessel before clearing it without incident.
The people taken from the vessel are being transferred to Ecuadorian authorities, SOUTHCOM said.
U.S. forces then sank the vessel.
SOUTHCOM said intelligence showed that the vessel was supporting Los Choneros, which it described as a violent narco-terrorist organization.
The command said the operation was carried out with the cooperation of the Ecuadorian government.
The vessel was being used to refuel other boats involved in illegal drug trafficking operations. The command said removing it cut off an important part of the
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