The U.S. government announced new sanctions against individuals and entities in Ecuador, implicating them in a major maritime cocaine trafficking operation. The sanctions affect 15 individuals, 10 vessels, and multiple entities associated with this illicit activity.
According to the Treasury Department, the network involves Ecuadorian groups Los Choneros and Los Lobos. These groups, recognized by the U.S. as foreign terrorist organizations, allegedly used legitimate-looking fishing vessels from Manta, Ecuador, to transport cocaine. These operations are thought to contribute drugs to Mexican cartels, where they are then sold in the U.S.
The vessels reportedly resupplied smaller fast boats, transporting cocaine through the eastern Pacific Ocean to Mexico. From there, cartels such as the Sinaloa cartel and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) managed distribution into the U.S.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated, “We will continue to disrupt the cartels’ drug trafficking operations and protect our borders.”
The Mero family, claimed to be operating the fishing company Arcasdenoe S.A., were among those sanctioned. Accusations include their involvement in coordinating fuel, food, and medical supplies for cocaine shipments. Other Ecuadorian nationals are also accused of managing additional front companies and distributing significant quantities of cocaine monthly.
The operation allegedly used ten vessels to provide logistical cover and, on occasion, direct cocaine transport. These measures build on past designations by the State and Treasury Departments concerning Los Choneros, Los Lobos, and CJNG.
A significant quantity of drugs confiscated during a 2024 operation in Quevedo, Ecuador, underscores the scale of the trafficking. This announcement coincides with Operation Pacific Viper, a counternarcotics campaign led by the U.S. Coast Guard, which has seized over 225,000 pounds of cocaine in the eastern Pacific by mid-2026.
The new sanctions mean that any U.S. assets belonging to these designated individuals and entities are frozen. Additionally, Americans are generally prohibited from business dealings with them. The Treasury emphasized that violations might result in civil or criminal penalties. Foreign financial institutions could face secondary sanctions if they facilitate transactions with those sanctioned under specific executive orders.
This action reflects coordination among various agencies, including the Homeland Security Task Force, the DEA, U.S. Southern Command, Naval Intelligence, and the Coast Guard. These sanctions are part of nearly 30 actions aimed at cartel networks since early 2025.
The State Department stated that these trafficking operations bring in billions of dollars for cartels responsible for a substantial portion of dangerous drugs affecting communities.
“The United States will continue to use all our tools to dismantle the cartels profiting at the expense of American lives,” said the department.
Earlier collaborations between U.S. commandos and Ecuadorian troops focused on dismantling criminal operations associated with Los Choneros. In 2024, Los Lobos was deemed the largest drug trafficking group in Ecuador, contributing significantly to violence in the country.
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