U.S. special operations forces recently joined Ecuadorian troops in a coastal raid targeting a suspected criminal hub tied to the powerful Los Choneros organization, CBS News reported on Thursday.
The mission, known as Lanza Marina, focused on a compound believed to support high-speed drug trafficking boats, with American forces serving in advisory roles alongside local units.
U.S. officials said the operation is part of a broader effort to disrupt maritime drug routes used by transnational criminal groups.
The Pentagon routinely uses authorities such as "127e" programs to support foreign partners in counterterrorism missions, allowing U.S. forces to train, advise and accompany allied troops in the field.
The operation comes amid an expanded U.S. military posture in the region.
Earlier this year, Washington and Quito launched joint actions against groups designated as terrorist organizations, while U.S. forces have also conducted unilateral strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since late 2025.
Those strikes have reportedly killed more than 160 people.
Los Choneros, recently designated by the U.S. as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a global terrorist entity, has evolved into a major trafficking network with ties to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel and other international groups.
The organization is believed to have thousands of members and a growing footprint across South America.
The Ecuador operation reflects the Trump administration’s intensified campaign to dismantle Latin American drug cartels by expanding the use of military force beyond traditional battlefields.
Loosened restrictions on special operations raids and airstrikes have allowed commanders greater latitude to target trafficking networks, while terrorist designations have enabled both military and financial crackdowns.
The strategy marks a shift toward treating major cartels as national security threats rather than solely criminal enterprises, with increased reliance on joint operations, direct strikes and partner-force training.
Supporters argue the approach disrupts supply chains and weakens cartel influence, while critics warn it risks escalating violence and blurring the line between counter-narcotics and armed conflict across the region.
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