The US launched a new attack against a drug-running speedboat belonging to the Ecuadorian criminal gang Los Choneros in the Eastern Pacific.

The United States Joint Interagency Task Force South destroyed an Ecuadorian vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on Monday. According to U.S. authorities, the boat functioned as a floating refueling station and provided logistical support for narcotics trafficking operations linked to the Ecuadorian criminal organization Los Choneros. This incident marks the fifth such vessel destroyed by U.S. forces in connection to the group.

The military action has drawn criticism from human rights groups in Ecuador. More than a dozen organizations have formally demanded that the United States cease these maritime attacks, citing concerns over the military operations being conducted against Ecuadorian vessels in the Pacific.