ABC News: Top Stories
· collected 2026-08-21 · by The Associated Press
The US Treasury has sanctioned 15 people allegedly involved in a network shipping thousands of kilograms of cocaine per month from Ecuador to the US through Mexico. This network uses Ecuador-based fishing vessels to transfer cocaine to small power boats that transit north through the Eastern Pacific Ocean, destined for the US. The members targeted are part of two Ecuadorean gangs previously designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the US, Los Choneros and Los Lobos. The sanctions come as the US has increased efforts against drug trafficking in Latin America, with Ecuador recording its highest homicide rate in decades last year.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The US Treasury has sanctioned 15 people involved in a network that allegedly ships thousands of kilograms of cocaine per month from Ecuador through Mexico to the US. The operation uses Ecuador-based fishing vessels near Manta, Ecuador, to transfer cocaine to small power boats heading north across the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPAC) towards the United States. The individuals targeted are allegedly part of two Ecuadorean gangs: Los Choneros and Los Lobos. This move comes as the US has increased attacks against fishermen in the Caribbean and Pacific, killing over 200 people, as part of a push to expand joint anti-drug trafficking operations in Latin America. In response to the sanctions, Ecuadorean Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo announced that his country will triple its interdiction capabilities in the maritime zone, with three Black Hawk helicopters already stationed in Manta to conduct operations.
Written for “Cocaine Trafficking Network Busted” on 2026-08-31,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score +0.35 for article 1720 (medium confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-08-31
US Treasury sanctions Ecuador-to-US cocaine trafficking network
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Treasury → sanction → network
The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned 15 people involved in a network allegedly shipping cocaine from Ecuador through Mexico to the U.S.
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Treasury → sanction → U.S.
The operation uses Ecuador-based fishing vessels to transfer cocaine to power boats heading north
QUITO, Ecuador --
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operation → use → boats
The U.S. Treasury on Thursday sanctioned 15 people for their involvement in a network that allegedly shipped thousands of kilograms of cocaine per month from Ecuador through Mexico, destined for the United States.
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that → sanction → States
The announcement comes as the U.S. has ramped up attacks against fishermen in the Caribbean and the Pacific, killing more than 200, as part of the Trump administration's push to expand joint anti-drug trafficking operations in Latin America.
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U.S. → come → America
“Operating under the guise of legitimate fishing businesses, a fleet of Ecuador-based vessels near Manta, Ecuador, secretly transfers cocaine to small power boats — known as go-fast vessels — that transit north through the Eastern Pacific Ocean (EPAC), en route to the United States,” the Treasury Department said.
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Department → operate → States
The members targeted are allegedly part of Los Choneros and Los Lobos, two Ecuadorean gangs previously designated by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations.
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members → target → organizations
The drugs are then smuggled through Mexico to the U.S. by the Sinaloa Cartel and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), also designated FTOs.
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drugs → smuggle → Cartel
Ecuador has struggled to contain drug violence since 2021 as rival cartels partner with local gangs and battle for control of routes and coastal ports used to smuggle cocaine.
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cartels → struggle → cocaine
The country is wedged between Colombia and Peru, the world’s top cocaine producing countries.
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country → wedge → Colombia
Last year, Ecuador recorded its highest homicide rate in decades of 50 murders per every 100,000 residents, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
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Ecuador → record → Interior
The country under President Daniel Noboa has become a strong partner of U.S. President Donald Trump in counter-narcotics operation in the region.
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country → become → region
Two U.S. warships with interceptor boats and helicopters will patrol Ecuador’s territorial waters to support the fight against drug trafficking, Ecuadorean Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo announced Thursday.
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Loffredo → patrol → trafficking
The announcement was made on his Instagram account after a meeting the previous day in the port city of Manta with Gen. Francis Donovan, head of U.S. Southern Command.
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announcement → make → Command
He did not specify when the patrols would begin.
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patrols → specify → ?
Loffredo noted that “this means we will triple our interdiction capabilities in the maritime zone” and added that “three Black Hawk helicopters are in Manta and will be conducting operations.”
The Associated Press asked U.S. Southern Command for details about the collaboration, but did not get an immediate response.
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Press → note → response
