US forces sink fifth ‘refueling vessel’ linked to Los Choneros terrorist organization

Published September 8, 2026 1:12am ET | Updated September 8, 2026 8:54am ET



The U.S. military continued its efforts on Labor Day to rid the Western Hemisphere of narco-trafficking operations that smuggle drugs into the country. U.S. Southern Command announced on Monday that it sank an alleged “refueling vessel” of the Los Choneros terrorist organization in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. 

The Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere “interdicted” the suspected drug-trafficking boat after receiving intelligence reports linking it to Los Choneros. It was the fourth such vessel Southern Command had sunk in September and the fifth since Aug. 28, with all of them being discovered in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

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