Ecuadorian Boat Crew Disputes U.S. Drug Claim After Vessel Is Sunk

U.S. Southern Command said American forces, acting with Ecuador, boarded and cleared a vessel in international waters of the eastern Pacific on August 28, then took its occupants to Ecuador and sank the boat. SOUTHCOM described it as a floating refueling station used for maritime drug trafficking and linked it through U.S. intelligence to Los Choneros. Crew members later denied the allegation in Manta, with Darlin Macías saying they had gone fishing and others alleging they were subdued during the operation. The U.S. statement said Marines and sailors from the USS San Antonio boarded, searched and cleared the craft without incident.