US Sanctions Ecuador Cocaine Network Linked to Mexican Cartels
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the action aims to disrupt cartel operations and protect borders, according to a department announcement. Both Los Choneros and Los Lobos, which are Ecuadorian factions connected to the network, hold foreign terrorist organization designations from the U.S. Investigators found that the smuggling operation supplied cocaine to major Mexican syndicates, including the Sinaloa cartel and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación.
Smuggling Tactics and Logistics in the Eastern Pacific
The trafficking ring relied on seemingly legitimate Ecuador-based fishing vessels to transport massive quantities of drugs through the eastern Pacific Ocean. These vessels allegedly refueled and resupplied smaller go-fast boats that carried the narcotics north toward Mexico. Among those designated by Treasury are members of the Mero family, who reportedly ran the fishing company Arcasdenoe S.A. The company coordinated fuel, food, and medical support for the cocaine shipments.
Several other Ecuadorian nationals were named for controlling a half-dozen front companies and coordinating tens of tons of cocaine monthly. Additionally, 10 specific vessels were identified for providing logistical cover, detection avoidance, and direct transport. According to the State Department, these operations generate billions of dollars annually for cartels responsible for a significant share of deadly drugs entering American communities.
Broader Counternarcotics Campaign and Enforcement Actions
The sanctions build upon prior actions, including the State Department’s September 2025 terrorist designations of Los Choneros and Los Lobos, as well as earlier Treasury penalties against those groups and CJNG. Officials tied Thursday’s announcement to Operation Pacific Viper, a U.S. Coast Guard-led counternarcotics campaign launched in August 2025. Treasury reported that the campaign has seized more than 225,000 pounds of cocaine in the eastern Pacific through June 2026.
The enforcement effort reflects coordination among the Homeland Security Task Force, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Southern Command, Naval Intelligence, and the Coast Guard. The Treasury Department noted this is one of nearly 30 similar actions targeting cartel networks since early 2025. Earlier this year, U.S. commandos participated in a joint mission with Ecuadorian troops targeting a suspected criminal hub linked to Los Choneros.
These latest penalties result in the freezing of any property and interests in property within the United States that are held by the targeted people and organizations, while also generally prohibiting Americans from engaging in commercial transactions with them. Violations can carry civil or criminal penalties, and foreign financial institutions facilitating transactions for those sanctioned under relevant executive orders could face secondary sanctions.