Florida, Sept. 17 -- US forces on Wednesday (local time) interdicted and sank a floating refuelling station that the US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said was supporting illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific.

In a post on X, SOUTHCOM said the operation was conducted under the direction of Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM), adding that "intelligence confirmed the vessel's involvement with the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization."

SOUTHCOM said individuals removed from the vessel were transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. "After clearing the vessel and disembarking the crew, U.S. forces sank it," the command said.

The US Southern Command further said that JTF-WHEM "continues to conduc...