US forces have intercepted and sunk a vessel they said was operating as a floating refuelling station for illicit drug-trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific.
The US Southern Command said the operation took place on September 3 in international waters, in coordination with the government of Ecuador.
Intelligence indicated that the vessel was supporting Los Choneros, a violent narco-trafficking organisation, the command said.
A force launched from the USS San Antonio boarded, searched and cleared the vessel "without incident", according to Southern Command. The people removed from the vessel will be transferred to Ecuadorian authorities, it said.
"Once cleared, U.S. forces sank the vessel," Southern Command said.
The command said the operation "cuts off a critical node in the traffickers' logistics chain" and supports efforts by the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition and Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere to dismantle narco-trafficking networks.
The US Department of War and the coalition "remain unwavering in their mission to defeat narco-terrorists in the Western Hemisphere and defend our homeland", Southern Command said.
By Aghakazim Guliyev
