A year after launching a lethal maritime campaign against drug trafficking, the U.S. military is adjusting tactics, focusing on larger "floating refueling stations" and adopting a more humanitarian approach to disabling these vessels.
Since September 2025, U.S. forces have conducted over 60 strikes on drug boats, resulting in more than 200 deaths of alleged "narco-terrorists" along South America's coasts. Now, in six recent operations off Ecuador, U.S. Southern Command (Southcom) has reported no fatalities. Instead, helicopters hover above, Marines from the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit board the repurposed fishing vessels, remove the crew, and hand them over to Ecuadorian authorities before the boats are destroyed.
These operations, conducted with Ecuador's consent, mark a stark departure from the direct attacks previously showcased in Pentagon videos, which critics likened to summary executions. The new approach aligns with traditional law enforcement methods to choke off drug smuggling in the Western Hemisphere, experts told The Hill.
"First of all, the fact that the crews have not been killed in an act of extrajudicial violence is obviously a huge step forward," said Annie Pforzheimer, former director for international narcotics and law enforcement at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City. "Secondly, the choice of targets appears to be looking at the chain of drug trafficking importance, moving up from the actual vessels transporting the finished product to a refueling node of the drug trafficking network."
By targeting these larger refueling boats, the U.S. is "getting closer to the people who are actually running the whole operation," Pforzheimer added, making them more valuable for potential legal cases.
The shift comes amid scrutiny from law-of-war experts, Democrats in Congress, and international critics who argue the strikes violate due process and international law. The administration cites a classified DOJ Office of Legal Counsel opinion to justify the operations, shielding service members from prosecution.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio acknowledged the six interdictions, starting Aug. 28, occurred in Ecuador's territorial waters, noting they are part of bilateral agreements. "These routes are being disrupted; these routes are being ended," he said.
A U.S. military official explained that once a vessel is confirmed to support illicit activities, "leaving it intact could allow criminals to continue or resume those activities," so sinking ensures it cannot be reused.
Lee Schlenker, a research associate at the Quincy Institute, called the new front a "novelty" and "welcome one," arguing it's more effective in targeting logistics. A defense official added that a fishing boat is "more difficult" to replace than a speed boat, though both tactics remain "effective."
Southcom reports all six vessels were linked to Los Choneros, an Ecuadorian criminal syndicate designated as a foreign terrorist organization. Experts expect similar operations to expand to nations like Colombia and El Salvador, as Rubio outlines a cooperative strategy that balances diplomacy with military readiness.
