Washington: The US military has announced the destruction of a vessel used by drug traffickers as a refueling station in the eastern Pacific Ocean. The operation involved US forces removing several individuals from the boat without the use of force.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, the US Southern Command, which supervises military operations in the region, reported that the boat was located in international waters and was being utilized by Los Choneros, a notorious criminal gang from Ecuador. The Southern Command disclosed on its X platform that the individuals taken off the boat were handed over to Ecuadorian authorities, and emphasized that the operation had been pre-coordinated with the Ecuadorian government.

A video released by the command displayed the boat exploding into a large fireball. The recent statement notably omitted any mention of casualties, in contrast to previous US strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the area.

The US military has conducted multiple operations against vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since last fall. These actions are part of an initiative directed by President Donald Trump, aimed at preventing the smuggling of drugs into the United States.