US military strikes suspected drug smuggling boats in coordinated operations with Ecuador

The United States military, in coordination with Ecuadorian forces, has resumed its controversial maritime strike campaign under Operation Southern Spear, destroying a suspected drug vessel in the Eastern Pacific linked to the Los Choneros gang. Since September 2025, the campaign has executed 67 strikes and killed over 200 people. While the Trump administration and Pentagon officials defend the legality of these lethal operations, legal experts and lawmakers criticize them as extrajudicial killings conducted without public evidence of onboard narcotics.

Operation Southern Spear strikes

• ▪The United States military resumed its campaign against suspected drug vessels with an August 23, 2026 strike that killed two people on a low-profile vessel in the Eastern Pacific.
• ▪The United States military conducted a strike on August 25, 2026, killing four alleged drug smugglers aboard a fast boat in the Caribbean.

Ecuador anti-drug partnership

• ▪The United States military destroyed an alleged drug trafficking vessel operating as a floating refueling station in the Eastern Pacific in a coordinated operation with Ecuador.
• ▪Ecuador joined United States President Donald Trump's "Shield of the Americas" anti-drug coalition in March 2026.

Strike casualty toll

• ▪The United States military campaign against suspected drug vessels, known as Operation Southern Spear, has carried out 67 strikes since its first strike on September 2, 2025.
• ▪More than 200 people have been killed in the United States military campaign dubbed Operation Southern Spear since it began in September 2025.

Extrajudicial killing allegations

• ▪Legal experts and lawmakers have criticized Operation Southern Spear, stating the military strikes amount to extrajudicial killings and bypass legal apprehension procedures.
• ▪United States Southern Command defended the legality of Operation Southern Spear, asserting that all operations comply with United States and international law, including the law of armed conflict.

Unverified intelligence claims

• ▪The Trump administration has not presented definitive public evidence that the vessels targeted in Operation Southern Spear were carrying or transporting illegal drugs.
• ▪The Pentagon released unclassified surveillance images dated October 27, October 29, and December 4, 2025, showing suspected drug-smuggling boats at sea.

Los Choneros cartel operations

• ▪United States Southern Command stated that the vessel intercepted in the Eastern Pacific was operating in support of Los Choneros, a powerful Ecuadorian criminal gang.
• ▪The United States government has designated the Ecuadorian criminal organizations Los Choneros and Los Lobos as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.