A group of detained fishermen are transported on a National Police bus to the Community Surveillance Unit (UVC) from the port of Manta, Ecuador, on September 4, 2026.
(Washington, DC) – United States forces intercepted and destroyed eight Ecuadorian fishing vessels between August 28 and September 16, 2026, detaining over 140 of 160 crew members and abusing some, Human Rights Watch said today. The US and Ecuadorian governments should disclose the legal basis for these operations and promptly investigate the abuses.
US military forces have alleged that the vessels were operating as floating refueling stations for drug trafficking operations linked to Los Choneros, an Ecuadorian criminal group. However, neither the US nor the Ecuadorian government has publicly disclosed compelling evidence linking individual crew members to any crime. Of the 160 crew members, 90 are facing criminal investigations in Ecuador, while Ecuadorian judges ruled that the arrest of 56 was unlawful, and 14 were not brought before a judge. Some reported being beaten, threatened in an effort to coerce them into confessing that they were trafficking fuel, and forced to sign documents could not understand.
“Intercepting fuel trafficking at sea may be an important step to stop criminal groups, but that doesn’t allow security forces to arrest people without evidence, destroy their vessels, or abuse them,” said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch. “Ecuador and the United States should disclose the legal basis for these operations, clarify the criteria used to intercept and destroy vessels, and establish robust safeguards to prevent further abuse.”
Human Rights Watch interviewed 27 people, including captains, crew members, relatives of people detained, and lawyers representing some detained crew members. Researchers also reviewed photographs and videos of the intercep
