Updated

The US military said it intercepted and sank a floating refueling station in the eastern Pacific linked to an Ecuadorian criminal gang, part of ongoing operations targeting drug-trafficking and organized crime networks in the region. The action reflects Washington's more aggressive military posture toward Latin American criminal organizations. The strike comes amid a broader US push to expand military and security operations against drug cartels and organized crime in Latin America, aligning with recent diplomatic outreach by US officials to regional governments.