Ecuador sinks "narco sub" as nation joins forces with U.S. to target organized crime
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March 5, 2026 / 10:37 AM EST / CBS News
Ecuadorian forces sank a "narco sub" near its northern border as the nation works with the United States military to crack down on organized crime in the country, Ecuador's defense ministry said Wednesday.
Ecuador and the U.S. began joint military operations on Tuesday, the U.S. Southern Command said on social media. The scope of the operation is not clear. The U.S. Southern Command shared a video of a helicopter flying over a group of men, but officials did not disclose where the footage was taken.
"We are taking decisive action to confront narco-terrorists who have long inflicted terror, violence, and corruption on citizens throughout the hemisphere," the agency said.
Ecuadorian president Daniel Noboa said earlier this week that his government was beginning joint actions with other countries as part of a new strategy in the fight against organized crime, the Associated Press reported. Ecuador and the U.S. often collaborate on security issues. The South American country has faced a sustained wave of violence linked to drug trafficking and illegal mining, according to the Associated Press.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/narco-sub-sunk-ecuador-us-operations-organized-crime/