Ecuador Expresses Support for U.S. Operations Against Drug Smuggling Vessels

U.S. forces sank three Ecuadorian vessels in the Pacific Ocean days ago as part of a broader campaign to combat maritime drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific, according to Reuters.

Reactions from Affected Families

Rosabla, 47, wife of one of the crew members aboard a sunken vessel, confirmed the men were on an ordinary fishing trip when the attack occurred and that the boat carried only fish, noting the incident took place within Ecuadorian waters, not international waters.

She added: "I don't understand why the U.S. government acts in such an arbitrary manner," accusing American authorities of violating fishermen's rights and targeting vessels without sufficient evidence linking them to drug smuggling.

Official Ecuadorian Position

Meanwhile, Ecuador expressed support for the operation on Friday, confirming it resulted from joint investigations with Washington aimed at dismantling the infrastructure of drug trafficking networks linked to criminal gangs.

While some relatives of crew members believe the official narrative does not align with the facts, the Ecuadorian government insisted the vessels were involved in smuggling activities and that the operation was conducted under a framework of bilateral security cooperation.

Context of the U.S. Campaign

These attacks are the latest in a series of expanded U.S. operations targeting maritime drug smuggling vessels in the eastern Pacific region, according to Reuters.

The U.S. military has released video footage documenting the sinking of one suspected vessel in the Pacific Ocean.