U.S. forces on Monday sank a floating refueling vessel used by an Ecuadorian organized crime ring, officials said.

Forces with Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTFWH) interdicted the refueling vessel used for\"at-sea drug trafficking operations\"in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said.

\"JTF-WHEM continues to conduct precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere,\" a SOUTHCOM post on X states.

The vessel was involved with the Los Choneros narco-terrorist organization, SOUTHCOM said. The people aboard were removed and will be handed over to Ecuadorian authorities.

NEWLY UNCLASSIFIED PENTAGON IMAGES SHOW SUSPECTED DRUG BOATS AS OFFICIAL ISSUES DEADLY WARNING

Once the boat was cleared, U.S. forces sank it.

JTFWH was activated by SOUTHCOM in August to counter threats, strengthen regional security, and respond to crises in the Western Hemisphere.

The Trump administration has prioritizedtargeting suspected drug-smuggling vesselsbound for the United States.

US KILLS TWO 'NARCO-TERRORISTS' IN STRIKE 2 MONTHS SINCE LAST ANNOUNCED ANTI-'NARCO-TRAFFICKING' ATTACK

U.S. forces have launched dozens of strikes targeting such boats under the administration's anti-drug campaign.

Last week, the cartel was designated by the State Department as aforeign terrorist organization. Its members have attacked and threatened public officials and their families, security personnel, judges, prosecutors, and journalists in Ecuador, the agency said.

\"Their ultimate goal is to control drug trafficking routes through Ecuador by terrorizing and inflicting brutal violence on the Ecuadorian people,\" said State Department deputy spokesperson Thomas Pigott.

In July, U.S. and Ecuadorian authorities cooperated to extradite Los Choneros leaderFito Macias, who was the first Ecuadorian citizen extradited from Ecuador to face justice in the U.S.

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US Southern Command on Monday announced Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces interdicted a floating refueling station supporting illicit drug-trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific.

Individuals involved with the Los Choneros narco-terrorist organization were removed from the vessel and transferred to Ecuadorian authorities.

Full statement from SOUTHCOM:

On Sept. 7, under the direction of #SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces successfully interdicted a floating refueling station supporting illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific.
Intelligence confirmed the vessel’s involvement with the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization.
Individuals removed from the vessel will be transferred to Ecuadorian authorities.
After clearing the vessel and disembarking the crew, U.S. forces sank it. JTF-WHEM continues to conduct precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.

WATCH:

This is the second refueling station disabled by SOUTHCOM in the last few days.

Over the weekend SOUTHCOMannouncedmilitary forces interdicted and destroyed two floating refueling stations for drug trafficking operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean

Both floating refueling stations were “operating in support of the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization,” according to SOUTHCOM.

On Saturday, SOUTHCOM released additional footage from another interdiction of a “multi-vessel” refueling station.

“Individuals removed from the main vessel have been transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. Once the main vessel was cleared and the crew disembarked, U.S. forces sank it and the attached support vessels,” SOUTHCOM said in a statement.

The postSOUTHCOM Removes Drug Traffickers Involved with Violent Narco-Terrorist Organization, Destroys Floating Refueling Station in Eastern Pacific (VIDEO)appeared first onThe Gateway Pundit.

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U.S. Forces Sink Refueling Vessel Linked to Los Choneros

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