U.S.–Ecuador Joint Military Operations Target Terrorist‑Designated Drug Gangs Los Choneros and Los Lobos
The U.S. and Ecuador have launched joint military operations targeting Los Choneros and Los Lobos—two of Ecuador’s largest drug gangs that the U.S. has designated as terrorist organizations—SOUTHCOM announced on X, calling the effort a "powerful example" of partners fighting narco‑terrorism after SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis Donovan met President Daniel Noboa in Quito. The action, described by the Wall Street Journal as part of the Trump administration’s broader expansion against Latin American drug traffickers, accompanies coordinated law‑enforcement efforts (including a U.S. Embassy/Europol/DEA Europe operation that dismantled a Hernán Ruilova Barzola network linked to Los Lobos with 16 arrests and six tons of cocaine seized) and follows Noboa’s pledge that March would bring joint operations with regional allies against drug terrorism and illegal mining.
📌 Key Facts
- The U.S. and Ecuador launched joint military operations targeting Los Choneros and Los Lobos — Ecuador’s largest drug gangs that the U.S. has designated as terrorist organizations.
- SOUTHCOM explicitly framed the Ecuador operations as targeting “Designated Terrorist Organizations” and called them a “powerful example” of Latin American partners fighting “narco‑terrorism.”
- The operations are part of the Trump administration’s broader expansion of its campaign against Latin American drug traffickers.
- SOUTHCOM announced the operations on X; the announcement coincided with a public meeting in Quito where SOUTHCOM chief Gen. Francis Donovan met President Daniel Noboa and other senior officials to discuss and reaffirm U.S.–Ecuador security cooperation.
- President Daniel Noboa said on Facebook that March will see “joint operations with regional allies, including the United States” in a “new phase against drug terrorism and illegal mining.”
- The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador, Europol and DEA Europe publicized a related operation that dismantled the Hernán Ruilova Barzola network linked to Los Lobos, resulting in 16 arrests and the seizure of about 6 tons of cocaine in Europe.
📰 Source Timeline (3)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- SOUTHCOM’s public Tuesday‑night statement explicitly framing the Ecuador operations as targeting 'Designated Terrorist Organizations' and a 'powerful example' of Latin American partners fighting 'narco‑terrorism.'
- President Daniel Noboa’s Facebook statement that March will see 'joint operations with regional allies, including the United States' in a 'new phase against drug terrorism and illegal mining.'
- U.S. Embassy in Ecuador, Europol and DEA Europe publicized a related joint operation that dismantled the Hernán Ruilova Barzola network linked to Los Lobos, resulting in 16 arrests and seizure of 6 tons of cocaine in Europe.
- SOUTHCOM commander Gen. Francis Donovan met Noboa and other senior Ecuadorian officials in Quito Sunday–Monday to discuss security cooperation and reaffirm U.S. support.
- Wall Street Journal confirms that the joint operation is part of the Trump administration’s broader expansion of its campaign against Latin American drug traffickers.
- Article reiterates that Los Choneros and Los Lobos, Ecuador’s largest drug gangs, have already been designated by the U.S. as terrorist organizations and are the focus of the new operations.
- Piece notes the announcement came via U.S. Southern Command on X and was accompanied by a public meeting between SOUTHCOM chief Gen. Francis Donovan and Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa in Quito.