The United States Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) carried out an operation on September 3, where it intercepted and sank a vessel used for drug trafficking in international waters of the Eastern Pacific. This action was conducted in coordination with the Government of Ecuador.
The operation was ordered by General Francis L. Donovan, commander of SOUTHCOM, after determining that the vessel was providing support to Los Choneros, an organization considered by Washington to be a narcoterrorist group. The Joint Task Force of the Western Hemisphere (Jtf-Whem) executed the operation, where the 24th Coastal Combat Force, deployed from the USS San Antonio (LPD 17), carried out the intervention and sinking of the ship without incident.
The individuals on board were handed over to Ecuadorian authorities. According to SOUTHCOM, the interdiction represents a significant blow to the traffickers’ logistical chain and is part of the efforts of the Coalition of the Americas Against Cartels (A3C) and Jtf-Whem to dismantle narcoterrorist networks.
Celebrating the first anniversary of Operation Southern Lance, the United States Department of Defense highlighted the success of the military campaign against vessels suspected of drug trafficking, which has resulted in a significant reduction of “illicit maritime activity”: 65% in the western Caribbean, 60% in the eastern Caribbean, and nearly 50% in the eastern Pacific.
The campaign began on September 2, 2025, when President Donald Trump announced the neutralization of a drug-laden vessel in the Caribbean. Since then, SOUTHCOM has reported periodically on its operations. However, the lack of public data has made it difficult to accurately calculate the casualties.
A Pentagon official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated that Trump committed to ensuring the security of the United States and combating cartels and narcoterrorists. He also held these organizations responsible for a high number of deaths in the country due to the circulation of fentanyl and gang violence.
The operations are framed within a broader strategy of pressure against Nicolás Maduro, the Venezuelan head of state, who is implicated in drug trafficking and was captured by the Pentagon in an operation in Caracas on January 3. Since that event, the United States has strengthened regional cooperation with the establishment of the A3C, which includes 18 other countries from Latin America and the Caribbean.
However, organizations like Amnesty International have questioned the way these operations are being conducted, calling for the United States to prioritize the detention of crews over the use of lethal force. Volker Türk, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, has urged an investigation into whether these actions could be considered “extrajudicial executions,” warning that the use of lethal force must be the last resort in the face of imminent threats.
Source: www.infobae.com
