US and Ecuador conduct anti-drug trafficking operation

The U.S. military has joined Ecuador’s police to target what officials describe as «designated terrorist organizations» in the country, opening a new phase in a broader U.S. campaign against drug trafficking, CNN reported.

U.S. Southern Command said the effort reflects «a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism.» The command said both countries are taking «decisive action» against groups it says have spread violence and corruption across the region.

Last September, the U.S. State Department designated Los Lobos and Los Choneros, two of Ecuador’s largest criminal organizations, as foreign terrorist organizations.

The announcement appears to expand the Trump administration’s Operation Southern Spear. According to previous statements, the operation has killed 151 people in strikes on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the eastern Pacific and the Caribbean.

The U.S. proposed establishing a military base in Ecuador last year as part of efforts to expand its presence in South America. Ecuadorian voters, however, rejected the proposal in a November referendum.