The Straits Times World News
· collected 2026-09-04 · by The Straits Times
Ecuador's government defended US operations that intercepted and sank three Ecuadorean vessels, claiming they were part of a joint anti-drug probe with Washington. The US says the vessels were being used as refueling stations for drug trafficking, linked to the Los Choneros gang. Ecuador's Interior Minister John Reimberg said the operation was a result of international cooperation targeting drug-smuggling logistics. A total of 28 crew members from two vessels have arrived in Manta, while another eight are still returning to port.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Here is a summary of the news story:
Three Ecuadorean vessels were sunk by the US military in the eastern Pacific within a week, with two articles from The Straits Times suggesting that these operations were part of a joint anti-drug probe between Ecuador and the US. The sinking of the third vessel occurred on September 3, bringing to three the number of vessels sunk by the US since August 28. Relatives of the crew members disputed the official account, claiming that the men were fishermen and not involved in drug trafficking, while the Ecuadorean government defended the US operations as part of a joint investigation targeting drug-smuggling routes between Ecuador and Mexico. The US military has stated that its intelligence confirmed that one of the vessels was working with the Los Choneros, a notorious Ecuadoran gang linked to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel. Over 200 people have died in these types of operations since last year, raising concerns about the use of lethal force at sea and potential human rights violations.
Written for “US Drug Trafficking Crackdown” on 2026-09-05,
grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.35, but none of the 2 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 4048: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-04
Ecuador says US sinkings of vessels were part of joint anti-drug probe
QUITO, Sept 4 -
asserted
sinkings → say → probe
Ecuador defended on Friday U.S. operations that intercepted and sank three Ecuadorean vessels this week, while relatives of some crew members said the men were fishermen and accused Washington of acting without evidence.
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men → defend → evidence
The episode is the latest in a widening U.S. campaign against maritime drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific, one that has drawn criticism from rights groups and concern in Latin America over the use of lethal force at sea.
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that → widen → sea
Relatives disputed the official account.
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Relatives → dispute → account
The wife of one crew member, who identified herself as 47-year-old Rosalba, without giving a last name, said by telephone that the men had been fishing when they were boarded and that no drugs were found.
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drugs → identify → telephone
"I don't understand why the U.S. government has to act in such an arbitrary way," she said, accusing it of violating the fishermens' human rights.
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she → understand → rights
She said the vessel carried only fish and alleged it was struck in Ecuadorean, not international, waters.
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it → say → waters
Reuters could not independently verify her account.
uncertain
Reuters → verify → account
Ecuador's government said the operation was the result of joint investigations with Washington targeting drug-smuggling logistics linked to criminal gangs.
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operation → say → gangs
"This is work carried out through international cooperation," Interior Minister John Reimberg told broadcaster Teleamazonas, adding the vessels served as floating refueling points that help speedboats move drugs north toward Mexico and the United States.
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speedboats → carry → Mexico
The U.S. Southern Command said the vessels sunk this week were being used as refueling stations for drug trafficking, and said they were linked to the Los Choneros gang.
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they → say → gang
Video posted by the military showed monochrome footage of operatives approaching and boarding a vessel before it was blown up at sea.
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it → post → sea
Reuters could not independently verify the date and location of the footage.
uncertain
Reuters → verify → footage
The Ecuadorean Navy said 28 crew members from two vessels - nine from the Conquista II and 19 from the OM2 - arrived in Manta at 3 p.m. local time aboard a coast guard vessel.
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members → say → vessel
Another eight crew members from the Conquista II were still returning to port aboard another vessel.
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members → return → vessel
