US military interdicts floating refueling station in Eastern Pacific before sinking it

The United States Southern Command said Friday night that it successfully interdicted a vessel operating as a floating refueling station in support of illicit drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific. 

SOUTHCOM said the interdiction was part of Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere and in collaboration with the Ecuadorian government. 

U.S. intelligence confirmed that the vessel was operating in support of the Los Choneros narco-terrorist organization.

American forces launched from the USS San Antonio, interdicted, boarded, searched and cleared the vessel, and individuals removed from the vessel were safely taken back to Ecuador. Once cleared, U.S. forces sank the vessel.

"Today's operation is a stark example of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition's power to dismantle the sophisticated, clandestine narco-terrorist tactics and capabilities that have enabled the trafficking of dangerous drugs destined for American communities," SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan said in a statement.

"Working together with our Ecuadorian partners, our coalition dealt a decisive blow to a narco-terrorist operation responsible for moving significant amounts of drugs through the region," he continued. "Together with our regional partners, we are committed to defeating narco-terrorists in the Western Hemisphere."

The operation comes just days after U.S. forces killed two alleged narco-terrorists in a boat strike, which marked its first deadly missile strike on an alleged drug boat in months,

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.