The United States military’s latest action against a narco-terrorist organization put the traffickers’ pit stop at the bottom of the Pacific.
“That’s how you break a cartel.”
Since returning to the White House, President Donald Trump has asserted America’s predominance in the Western Hemisphere in what has been dubbed the Donroe Doctrine. Adding to strikes on cartel vessels, the arrest of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro and actions throughout North, Central and South America, U.S. Southern Command landed another blow against a foreign terrorist organization by destroying a floating refueling station.
Footage from SOUTHCOM showed the destruction of a vessel said to be used by the narco-terrorist organization Los Choneros after U.S. service members escorted those on board to Ecuador without incident. Commentator David J. Freeman posted the clip with the caption, “THEY SANK THE GAS STATION. SOUTHCOM just hit a floating refuel ship in the Eastern Pacific. It was feeding narco boats at sea. Treasury already had it sanctioned. Intel tied it to Los Choneros. Marines and Sailors launched off USS San Antonio. Boarded it. Cleared it. No shots. Crew to Ecuador. Then they sent the hull to the bottom.
“That’s how you break a cartel. Not a press conference. Cut the fuel. Sink the node,” he added. “Narco-terrorists don’t get a pit stop on the way to American streets.”
THEY SANK THE GAS STATION.
SOUTHCOM just hit a floating refuel ship in the Eastern Pacific.It was feeding narco boats at sea. Treasury already had it sanctioned. Intel tied it to Los Choneros.
Marines and Sailors launched off USS San Antonio. Boarded it. Cleared it. No…
— Gunther Eagleman
(@GuntherEagleman) August 29, 2026
Los Choneros has been a target of “lethal kinetic operations” in the wake of Secretary of State Marco Rubio designating them and Los Lobos foreign terrorist organizations in Sept. 2025. Regarding the Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere operation with the Ecuadorian government, SOUTHCOM Cmdr. Gen. Francis L. Donovan stated, “Today’s operation is a stark example of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition’s power to dismantle the sophisticated, clandestine narco-terrorist tactics and capabilities that have enabled the trafficking of dangerous drugs destined for American communities.”
“Working together with our Ecuadorian partners, our coalition dealt a decisive blow to a narco-terrorist operation responsible for moving significant amounts of drugs through the region,” the official went on. “Together with our regional partners, we are committed to defeating narco-terrorists in the Western Hemisphere.”
On Aug. 28, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM Commander 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… pic.twitter.com/ZEj735JRmP
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) August 29, 2026
Further celebrating the achievement of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition (A3C) toward doing away with the narco-terrorists, SOUTHCOM posted to X, “Make no mistake: We are taking the fight to the narco-terrorists to end their terror and violence in the Western Hemisphere and protect the homeland.”
“#SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan’s engagements with Colombian and Ecuadorian military leaders this week have set the sage for a new era of divisive, unified operations across the region,” stated the post.
Make no mistake: We are taking the fight to the narco-terrorists to end their terror and violence in the Western Hemisphere and protect the homeland.#SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan’s engagements with Colombian and Ecuadorian military leaders this week have set the… pic.twitter.com/C10IUgN7RX
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) August 28, 2026
When the designations as foreign terrorist organizations were announced, the State Department issued a statement that read, “The United States, in partnership with Ecuador and its President Daniel Noboa, will continue to protect our two nations by keeping illicit drugs off our streets and disrupting the revenue streams funding drug cartels’ terrorism and criminal activity.”
Also this week, SOUTHCOM shared details of successful operations by the Colombian Navy and another lethal kinetic strike against narco-terrorists.
“Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere continues executing precise, lethal operations against the cartels. We will hunt, disrupt, and defeat these narco-terrorist networks. SOUTHCOM is resolved to neutralizing cartel terror and violence throughout the region and into the U.S.… pic.twitter.com/Kj4k9onYxx
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) August 26, 2026
Partnership in Action!
We extend our congratulations to the Colombian Navy (@ArmadadeColombia) on their recent successful counternarcotics operation. After detecting a Go-Fast vessel off the coast of Cartagena, Armada de Colombia units swiftly intercepted the target,… pic.twitter.com/kW7gAj3ud1— Joint Interagency Task Force South (@jiatfs) August 28, 2026
