Date: August 21, 2026
The US Treasury has taken action against a group of fishing boats that are believed to be involved in smuggling large amounts of cocaine to Mexico each month, with the final destination being the United States.
The sanctioned fleet includes 10 ships and 15 individuals based in Ecuador, linked to two of the country’s most dangerous drug cartels: Los Choneros and Los Lobos.
According to the Treasury, these vessels operate as legitimate fishing companies but are actually involved in covertly transferring cocaine to fast boats, often referred to as "go-fast vessels," near Manta, Ecuador.
The smuggled cocaine is then moved through Mexico by criminal organizations, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. The fishing boats also serve as a source of food and fuel for the cocaine-laden speedboats.
One of the ships has been specifically accused of directly transporting large amounts of cocaine, while the rest have been placed on a list of “blocked property” due to their logistical support activities in the Pacific Ocean.
Manta is an important Pacific port and a central location for Ecuador’s tuna industry. In recent years, the city has seen a rise in homicides as drug gangs fight for territory, and the city’s mayor was assassinated just before the 2023 presidential elections.
The US has increasingly employed military action against drug trafficking in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, conducting airstrikes on boats that have resulted in the deaths of over 200 individuals since 2025.
Lawmakers in the US have raised concerns about the legality of these strikes. The US Coast Guard has reported seizing more than 225,000 pounds of cocaine in operations in the eastern Pacific since the middle of 2025.