The Ecuadorian Navy “destroyed and sank” this Saturday a vessel carrying 2.3 tons of drugs in national waters to the north of the continent, after intercepting it in national waters of the Andean country, according to the Ministry of Defense, Gian Carlo Loffredo, on his social media.

[Ecuador Appeals for U.S. Support to Combat Drug-trafficking Surge: Ecuadorian Navy Destroys Vessel Carrying 2.3 Tons of Drugs](https://www.telesurenglish.net/ecuadorian-navy-destroys-vessel-carrying-2-3-tons-of-drugs/)

The minister compared these actions to operations carried out by the United States with vessels suspected of drug trafficking on the high seas.

“As in international waters, in operations conducted by the U.S., they destroy the boats; we in national waters do the same in operations conducted by the Navy,” he stated.

In a statement, the Navy previously reported that it had intercepted a artisanal vessel near the coastal city of Manta, where three Ecuadorian citizens were found, and 55 bundles of drugs valued at 50 million dollars in the U.S. market were seized.

🚨 OTRO GOLPE MÁS AL NARCOTRAFICO EN EL MAR 🚨@FFAAECUADOR @DefensaEc pic.twitter.com/Ba2ZfVPuS9

— Armada del Ecuador (@armada_ecuador) October 3, 2026

The minister explained that the decision to sink it was due to the risk of leaving it adrift in an area where commercial and fishing boats transit. He also indicated that towing the vessel to the coast would endanger military personnel.

“If you fish from Monday to Thursday but traffic drugs on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you are a narco-terrorist,” Loffredo continued.

Since August 28, the United States has intercepted and destroyed eight Ecuadorian vessels in international Pacific waters, operations carried out in coordination with the Government of Ecuador.

According to the U.S. Southern Command, the boats allegedly operated as floating refueling stations for boats used in drug trafficking to North America.

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