Screengrab from X video The U.S. military has intercepted and sunk a vessel that it said was being used as a floating refueling station to support drug trafficking operations at sea linked to Ecuadorian criminal group Los Choneros. The vessel was intercepted on Sept. 2 in international waters in the Eastern Pacific, the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) said. U.S. Marines and sailors launched from the USS San Antonio (LPD 17) boarded and searched the vessel before clearing it without incident. The people taken from the vessel are being transferred to Ecuadorian authorities, SOUTHCOM said. U.S. forces then sank the vessel. SOUTHCOM said intelligence showed that the vessel was supporting Los Choneros, which it described as a violent narco-terrorist organization. The command said the operation was carried out with the cooperation of the Ecuadorian government. The vessel was being used to refuel other boats involved in illegal drug trafficking operations. The command said removing it cut off an important part of the group’s supply and support network. Second Vessel Destroyed The operation came after U.S. forces destroyed another vessel on Friday that was also allegedly linked to Los Choneros. Los Choneros is one of Ecuador’s main drug trafficking and extortion groups. The latest operation was carried out by Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere. SOUTHCOM said the mission supports the work of the Americas Counter Cartel Coalition, known as A3C, which aims to break up drug trafficking networks. The U.S. Defense Department and A3C said they remain committed to fighting narco-terrorist groups in the Western Hemisphere and protecting the U.S. homeland. On Sept. 2, at the direction of #SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan, and in coordination and collaboration with the Government of Ecuador, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) successfully interdicted a vessel operating as a floating refueling station in support… pic.twitter.com/io55pvWff0 — U.S. Sou