For the second time this week, U.S. forces eliminated a drug trafficer's refueling station in the easstern Pacific.
On Sep. 3, at the direction of Gen. Francis L. Donovan, and in coordination and collaboration with the Government of Ecuador, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) successfully interdicted a vessel operating as a floating refueling station in support of illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in international waters of the Eastern Pacific, according to a statement from the U.S. Southern Command.
Intelligence confirmed the vessel was operating in support of the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization. Littoral Combat Force 24 launched from USS San Antonio (LPD 17), interdicted, boarded, searched, and cleared the vessel without incident. Individuals removed from the vessel will be safely transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. Once cleared, U.S. forces sank the vessel. U.S. forces sunk a similar vessel on Wednesday.
This interdiction cuts off a critical node in the traffickers' logistics chain and advances the goals of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) and JTF-WHEM to dismantle narco-terrorist networks. The @DeptofWar and the A3C remain unwavering in their mission to defeat narco-terrorists in the Western Hemisphere and defend our homeland.