The U.S. Treasury Department announced Thursday that it has sanctioned fifteen individuals for their role in a large‑scale cocaine trafficking network that moves the drug from Ecuador, through Mexico, and into the United States. The sanctions target members of two Ecuadorian gangs, Los Choneros and Los Lobos, both previously designated as foreign terrorist organizations.
How the maritime network operated
According to the Treasury, the operation used vessels that appeared to be legitimate fishing boats operating out of the port city of Manta, Ecuador. Under the cover of normal fishing activity, these boats transferred cocaine to small, high‑speed power boats—often called “go‑fast” vessels—that then raced northward across the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Once the cargo reached Mexican waters, it was handed to the Sinaloa Cartel and the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG), both also designated as foreign terrorist organizations, for final delivery into the United States.
Federal response and partnership with Ecuador
President Daniel Noboa’s administration has positioned Ecuador as a strong partner in the United States’ counter‑narcotics campaign. In support of that partnership, two U.S. warships equipped with interceptor boats and helicopters will patrol Ecuadorian territorial waters. Ecuadorian Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo announced the deployment on his Instagram account after meeting with Gen. Francis Donovan, head of U.S. Southern Command, in Manta. Loffredo said the effort would “triple our interdiction capabilities in the maritime zone” and noted that three Black Hawk helicopters are already stationed in Manta for operations.
Impact on U.S. communities
Federal officials say the network was capable of moving thousands of kilograms of cocaine each month, a volume that fuels addiction, violent crime, and the broader opioid crisis in American neighborhoods. By targeting the financial and logistical leaders of the operation, the Treasury aims to disrupt the flow of the drug before it reaches U.S. streets.
Background on Ecuador’s drug‑related violence
Ecuador has struggled with rising drug‑related violence since 2021 as rival cartels partner with local gangs to control coastal ports and trafficking routes. The country sits between Colombia and Peru, the world’s top cocaine‑producing nations, and has seen its homicide rate climb to a recent high of 50 murders per 100,000 residents, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
The sanctions represent the latest step in a broader U.S. strategy to combat illicit drug flows from Latin America. While the Treasury’s announcement did not include details on the specific assets frozen, it signals continued federal commitment to using economic tools to weaken transnational criminal organizations.
The Associated Press reached out to U.S. Southern Command for additional comment but did not receive an immediate response.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
