U.S. Helps Ecuador Launch Land Operation Against Cartels
The operation “dismantled the transnational drug trafficking organization Hernán Ruilova Barzola, linked to the Los Lobos cartel.”
The U.S. military assisted Ecuador with a land operation against cartels on Tuesday night.
I believe it’s the first land operation since the U.S. started striking suspected narco boats in the Caribbean and Pacific.
In total, the military has performed 43 strikes on boats, killing 150 people.
“On March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador,” U.S. Southern Command wrote on X. “The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism.”
On March 3, Ecuadorian and U.S. military forces launched operations against Designated Terrorist Organizations in Ecuador. The operations are a powerful example of the commitment of partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to combat the scourge of narco-terrorism.
Together,… pic.twitter.com/MrkKZcrDbs
— U.S. Southern Command (@Southcom) March 4, 2026
A source told ABC News that the military only advised the Ecuadorian forces.
The military only provided planning, intelligence, and operational support while Ecuador prepared for the operation.
The U.S. Embassy in Ecuador showed the contents seized during the operation:
The United States successfully concluded a joint operation with Europol (the European Union’s Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation) and Ecuadorian authorities that dismantled the transnational drug trafficking organization Hernán Ruilova Barzola, linked to the Los Lobos cartel.
Thanks to the coordination between Ecuador, the United States, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain, the detention of 16 suspects was achieved, including a high-value target, the seizure of significant quantities of cocaine and cash, and the dismantling of a complex money laundering and corruption scheme.
This complex operation is another important milestone in disrupting the operations and finances of narcoterrorists, directly contributing to the security of the United States. These concrete results strengthen international cooperation for the benefit of the American people, with a global impact.
Los Estados Unidos concluyó con éxito una operación conjunta con Europol (Agencia de la Unión Europea para la Cooperación Policial) y autoridades ecuatorianas que desmanteló la organización transnacional de narcotráfico Hernán Ruilova Barzola, vinculada al cártel de Los Lobos.… pic.twitter.com/UWlMQlqlng
— US Embassy Ecuador (@USembassyEC) March 3, 2026
“We commend the men and women of the Ecuadorian armed forces for their unwavering commitment to this fight, demonstrating courage and resolve through continued actions against narco-terrorists in their country,” said Marine Gen. Francis L. Donovan, commander of U.S. Southern Command.
Donovan met with President Daniel Noboa and senior Ecuadorian defense officials on Sunday.
The group discussed “security cooperation and reaffirm the United States’ strong commitment to supporting the nation’s efforts to confront narco-terrorism and strengthen regional security.
SOUTHCOM confirmed Donovan made the trip because Ecuador is “a key regional partner in the fight against narco-terrorist organizations.”
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Comments
“accidentally” bomb the trails leading up to the borders
To the consternation and confusion of his enemies, Trump has become a master of the tight OODA loop. In fact, he is now keeping multiple loops running at all times.
Yep. Plus the political positioning he’s forcing the d/prog into by the d/prog reflexively arguing in opposition to curb stomping Iranian Terrorism regime, kinetic interdiction of drug boats, snatching up Maduro, deporting illegal aliens and combating massive fraud in public benefit programs, among others.
Lots of Muslim terrorist running drugs in Central America
Your comment reminds me of the films Sicario (2015) and Sicario: Day of the Soldado (2018). The plots of both were a projection of what our country has been going through over the past 10 years. Scary stuff.