On September 15, 2026, U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) identified and destroyed a second mobile refueling station in the Eastern Pacific. This operation helps create further obstacles for cocaine traffickers on one of the most popular northern routes.
Operation Details and Links to Smuggling Gangs
According to received information, evidence points to a connection between a suspicious fishing vessel and the Los Choneros drug trafficking gang. This gang, which is an organized and aggressive group based in Ecuador, typically uses pre-positioned refueling stations at sea for their smuggling trips to Central America.
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CENTCOM forces have recently turned to new methods to disrupt traffickers' logistics, including inspecting and destroying refueling vessels. In this operation, American forces identified the suspicious vessel, disembarked its crew, and destroyed the ship using explosives. The crew will be handed over to Ecuadorian authorities for further legal proceedings.
Command Response and Impact of the Operation
General Francis L. Donovan, commander of SOUTHCOM, stated in a press release: "We are applying relentless pressure on these narco-terrorists and inflicting serious damage on them: we are dismantling their complex networks, disrupting their advanced logistics, and hitting their finances. This is how we create systematic friction."
In the past week, U.S. Navy and Marine Corps forces also identified and destroyed another refueling support vessel in the Eastern Pacific. According to the Navy, this vessel was also linked to the Los Choneros gang. The occupants of this vessel were also transferred to Ecuador, and the ship was destroyed.
Although the operations to discover refueling vessels have currently been non-lethal, lethal attacks on suspicious vessels carrying cocaine remain part of SOUTHCOM's operational procedures. The latest attack, recently revealed, occurred on September 9, when SOUTHCOM forces destroyed a fast smuggling vessel in the Caribbean, killing three suspected traffickers in the attack.
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