In a shift of tactics in the U.S. military’s campaign against drug trafficking near Ecuador, armed forces have increasingly targeted large fishing vessels suspected of supplying fuel to drug smugglers, seizing crews before destroying their boats. This approach, undertaken in coordination with Ecuadorian authorities, marks a departure from earlier operations that directly targeted smaller, faster vessels known as go-fast boats, sometimes resulting in crew deaths.
Since early September, at least eight interdictions have led to the detention of around 160 crew members, who were removed from their vessels prior to the destruction of the boats. U.S. Southern Command described these larger vessels as “narco-terrorist” refueling nodes critical to traffickers’ logistics. However, in many cases, the crews have been released or acquitted by Ecuadorian courts due to a lack of evidence. Prosecutors have seldom produced tangible proof linking the fishermen to drug smuggling, such as photographs of excess fuel tanks, communications intercepts, or other intelligence.
Ecuador’s government, under President Daniel Noboa, has supported and participated in joint operations with the U.S., including providing intelligence to identify suspect vessels. Officials insisted that attacks not involve destroying boats with crews on board, reflecting domestic legal concerns and public sensitivities after a 2025 referendum in which Ecuadorians rejected the establishment of formal foreign military bases in the country.
Despite close collaboration, sources familiar with the operations report that the United States has largely not shared concrete evidence of wrongdoing with Ecuadorian authorities. Some analysts suggest this may stem from confidentiality due to ongoing investigations, or from U.S. skepticism about the integrity of Ecuador’s judicial system, which has faced challenges from narco-corruption. One Ecuadorian intelligence official characterized the main U.S. goal as deterrence rather than prosecution, with the implicit message that destroying suspect vessels serves as a punitive measure regardless of legal outcomes.
Conditions for detained fishermen have raised human rights concerns. Some crew members reported harsh treatment, including physical abuse and coercion, forcing them to sign documents in languages they did not understand. Lawyers representing the crews argue that destruction of the boats eliminates critical evidence necessary for criminal cases, complicating prosecutions.
The interdictions take place in the waters near Ecuador’s Galápagos Islands, an area reportedly used as a covert supply point where fishermen can make significant sums by smuggling fuel to drug traffickers at sea who operate go-fast boats. While many of those involved are licensed fishermen contracted on short-term trips, authorities have difficulty securing proof of illicit activity due to the porous nature of the accusations and the presence of legally registered operators.
Affected fishermen say the military actions have severely disrupted their livelihoods and instilled fear throughout the local industry. One fisherman detained during a September raid reported being classified as a “shipwreck survivor” by Ecuador’s Navy and released without charges, but his documents have not been returned, preventing him from working.
Early reports suggested that these interdictions had led to a temporary reduction in drug trafficking activities. However, a recent seizure by the Ecuadorian Navy of a go-fast boat laden with drug bundles near the port city of Manta indicates that smuggling continues in the region.
The U.S. State Department, Ecuadorian defense and interior ministries, and U.S. Southern Command declined to comment on specific details of the operations. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that the U.S. remains willing to destroy vessels when necessary but emphasized that new operations are conducted in cooperation with partner countries and must comply with their laws.