U.S. Hits Ecuador’s Fishing Fleet with Sanctions
Ten vessels and 15 individuals linked to Ecuadorian cartels face Treasury restrictions for moving 30-40 tonnes of.
The U.S. Treasury Department has imposed sanctions on 15 Ecuadorian citizens, 10 fishing vessels, and several companies for their alleged involvement in cocaine trafficking operations. The measures target key players in a smuggling network that connects Ecuadorian cartels with Mexican drug organizations.
According to U.S. officials, the sanctioned vessels operate from Manta, Ecuador’s primary tuna-fishing port, where they exploit their commercial appearance to facilitate drug shipments. These boats are accused of transporting large quantities of cocaine—estimated at 30 to 40 tonnes per month—from Ecuador to Central America and Mexico. Beyond smuggling, the vessels provide logistical support, including refueling high-speed smuggling boats, supplying food and medical aid to traffickers, and monitoring law enforcement activity to avoid detection.
The Treasury Department identified Los Choneros and Los Lobos, two Ecuadorian cartels designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S., as central figures in the operation. These groups collaborate with Mexican cartels, particularly the Sinaloa Cartel and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, to distribute cocaine in U.S. markets. While some shipments are concealed in commercial freight bound for Europe and Australia, the primary focus remains the northbound route into the United States.
Fishing Vessels as Cover for Drug Trafficking: Ecuador
The sanctions freeze any assets the targeted individuals or vessels may hold under U.S. jurisdiction and prohibit American entities from engaging in business with them. This action is part of a larger U.S. strategy to dismantle cocaine trafficking in the region, with over 300 entities sanctioned since the beginning of the Trump administration.
Ecuador, despite producing little cocaine domestically, has become a critical transit point for shipments originating in Colombia and Peru. The Treasury Department emphasized that the sanctions aim to disrupt the financial and operational networks enabling these cartels. However, their long-term impact will depend on regional cooperation and Ecuador’s efforts to address corruption within its borders.
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