American commandos recently collaborated with Ecuadorian troops in a joint operation aimed at dismantling a suspected criminal hub associated with the alleged narco-terrorist organization Los Choneros along Ecuador’s coast. The mission, named Lanza Marina, focused on a compound believed to serve as a staging area for high-speed boats linked to the group.
Two U.S. officials, speaking to CBS News on condition of anonymity, confirmed that American forces primarily acted in advisory roles during the operation, assisting Ecuadorian counterparts in efforts to disrupt trafficking networks reliant on fast-moving maritime routes. The U.S. Defense Department permits such support through legal authorities including security cooperation agreements and specific provisions like the “127 Echo” missions under 10 U.S.C. § 127e, which enable the U.S. military to assist foreign forces in counterterrorism activities.
The joint efforts between the United States and Ecuador commenced in early March 2026 and focus on “designated terrorist organizations,” reflecting a broader U.S. military strategy against drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific. Since September 2025, U.S. military strikes have targeted suspected drug smuggling boats in these waters, resulting in at least 47 attacks and approximately 163 fatalities.
Marine General Francis Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command, praised the Ecuadorian armed forces for their commitment in countering narco-terrorists. In official remarks to Congress, Donovan highlighted Southern Command’s initiatives to enhance training for partner nation law enforcement and military personnel to improve counternarcotics and counterterrorism capabilities.
Why it matters
The joint operation exemplifies increased U.S. military engagement in Latin America to combat drug trafficking organizations designated as terrorist groups. Los Choneros was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization and a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity by the U.S. State and Treasury Departments in 2025, enabling targeted enforcement actions including financial sanctions and criminal prosecution.
Disrupting criminal networks like Los Choneros, which operate domestic and international drug trafficking routes and maintain alliances with major transnational cartels such as Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, is pivotal for regional security and U.S. national security interests. The mission underscores ongoing efforts to address the nexus of narcotics trafficking and terrorism through cooperative international military and law enforcement measures.
Background
Los Choneros emerged in the 1990s and evolved from a regional gang into a loosely structured, franchise-like network with approximately 12,000 members. The group exerts influence across Ecuador, including Manabi province and at least 10 other provinces, as well as Colombia and Peru. Its decentralized structure has enabled survival despite leadership targeting by authorities.
The expanded U.S. military role follows a 2025 policy shift that relaxed restrictions on authorizing airstrikes and special operations targeting entities involved in narcotics smuggling outside traditional battlefields. This change allows greater flexibility in U.S. actions against transnational criminal organizations deemed terrorist threats.
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