The U.S. military sank a floating refueling vessel in the eastern Pacific in footage released on Wednesday (September 16) after boarding it during an operation targeting drug trafficking networks, according to U.S. Southern Command.

Video released by the military showed personnel approaching and boarding the vessel before it was destroyed at sea.

U.S. Southern Command said intelligence linked the vessel to Ecuador's Los Choneros narcotics trafficking organization and that individuals removed from the vessel were handed over to Ecuadorian authorities.

Reuters was not able to independently verify the location and date when the video was filmed. No older versions of the footage were found posted online before September 16.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: AERIAL MONOCHROME FOOTAGE SHOWING U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL RAIDING VESSEL / EXPLOSION ON VESSEL AT SEA

VERIFICATION:

- Date and location not verified

- No older version of the video was found posted online before September 16

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

EDITORS NOTE: VIDEO QUALITY AS INCOMING IN SHOTS 1, 2 AND 3

SHOWS: GIVEN AS EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN (RELEASED SEPTEMBER 16, 2026) (US SOUTHERN COMMAND - Must on-screen courtesy US SOUTHERN COMMAND) (MUTE)

1. MONOCHROME AERIAL FOOTAGE OF HELICOPTER APPROACHING VESSEL AT SEA

2. U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL ON ASSAULT BOAT NEXT TO VESSEL

3. PERSONNEL BOARDING VESSEL

4. VARIOUS OF VESSEL EXPLODING AT SEA

INTERNET (SEPTEMBER 16, 2026) (SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE - Access all)

5. SCREENSHOT OF X POST FROM U.S. SOUTHERN COMMAND READING (English): "On Sept. 16, under the direction of #SOUTHCOM, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere (JTF-WHEM) forces successfully interdicted a floating refueling station supporting illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations in the Eastern Pacific. Intelligence confirmed the vessel's involvement with the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization. Individuals removed from the vessel have been transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. After clearing the vessel and disembarking the crew, U.S. forces sank it. JTF-WHEM continues to conduct precise and professional operations to dismantle the logistical networks fueling narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. "Alongside our Ecuadorian partners, we are relentlessly pursuing narco-terrorists who prey on our citizens, undermine hemispheric security, and leave death and suffering in their wake. This deliberate, lawful, and precise operation saves lives and makes our citizens—from Ecuador to the United States—safer." - SOUTHCOM Commander Gen. Francis L. Donovan"