U.S. and Ecuadorian forces carried out coordinated military operations aimed at groups accused of drug trafficking and organized violence inside Ecuador, according to U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). The mission is part of a broader effort by Washington and regional partners to combat criminal organizations tied to narcotics smuggling and violent gang activity across Latin America.
SOUTHCOM announced that the operations targeted organizations that the United States has designated as terrorist groups. Officials said the joint effort reflects growing cooperation between governments in the region to confront drug cartels and the networks that support them. The command did not release details about the targets or locations involved, and there was no immediate information about casualties.
Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of SOUTHCOM, praised Ecuador’s armed forces for their role in the mission. He said Ecuadorian troops continue to show determination in confronting groups responsible for violence and corruption tied to the drug trade. According to officials familiar with the operation, U.S. military personnel served mainly in an advisory role, providing planning support, intelligence, and operational guidance ahead of the mission.
While U.S. advisors assisted with preparation, Ecuadorian forces conducted the ground and air operations themselves. This marks the first publicly acknowledged land operation involving cooperation between the U.S. military and Ecuador since the Trump administration expanded its campaign against drug trafficking networks in the Western Hemisphere.
The announcement comes shortly after another joint effort involving the United States, Ecuadorian authorities, and Europol that dismantled a transnational trafficking network led by Hernán Ruilova Barzola. U.S. officials say the organization had ties to Los Lobos, one of Ecuador’s most powerful criminal groups.
The Trump administration has increased pressure on trafficking organizations since taking office. U.S. forces have launched dozens of strikes against suspected drug-smuggling vessels operating in the Caribbean and the eastern Pacific Ocean. According to officials, around 45 operations have been carried out against suspected trafficking boats, resulting in more than 150 deaths.
Last week, U.S. forces targeted another suspected smuggling vessel in the Caribbean linked to groups designated as terrorist organizations. Three individuals believed to be involved in drug trafficking were killed during that operation. Earlier strikes in nearby waters reportedly killed 11 people suspected of participating in maritime drug transport.
Ecuador has become a key transit route for cocaine shipments moving from South America toward North America and Europe. In recent years, criminal gangs have grown more powerful and violent, creating major security challenges for the country.
The crisis escalated in January 2024 when armed gangs seized control of a television station during a live broadcast and held staff hostage. The attack was part of a wave of violence that led President Daniel Noboa to declare a national state of emergency. Since then, the government has treated the situation as an internal armed conflict while deploying military and police forces against gang networks.
Noboa has sought closer cooperation with Washington to address the problem. Over the past year, U.S. officials have strengthened security coordination with Ecuador, including intelligence sharing and support for anti-trafficking operations. The United States also designated two Ecuadorian gangs, Los Lobos and Los Choneros, as terrorist organizations.
Until the latest announcement, U.S. operations linked to Ecuador had largely taken place offshore, including Coast Guard missions that intercept cocaine shipments in the eastern Pacific as part of Operation Pacific Viper. The latest joint effort signals a deeper level of collaboration as both governments attempt to disrupt criminal groups operating within Ecuador’s borders.
United States = Green
Ecuador = Blue
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