A serious allegation has heightened tensions in the Pacific Ocean, involving United States military forces and Ecuadorian fishermen.
The fishing vessel ‘Negra Francisca Duarte’, with 16 crew members aboard, reported being attacked while navigating 170 nautical miles from the Galápagos Islands. Captain Hernán Flores detailed that the incident occurred on March 17, 2026, according to information released by Radio Pichincha.
Flores described that a drone approached the boat and exploded in the cabin, causing a fire that forced the crew to abandon the vessel in auxiliary dinghies.
After reaching a nearby ship, the fishermen claimed they were confronted by American military personnel. According to Flores’ account, the crew members were threatened with weapons and forced to raise their hands.
On the American ship, the Ecuadorians were reportedly handcuffed and had bags placed over their heads. One day after the incident, they were handed over to an El Salvadoran Navy patrol.
Only on March 23, 2026, did Salvadoran authorities report the whereabouts of the fishermen, who had been declared missing. The Ecuadorians returned to their country in early April 2026, and lawyer Jorge Chiriboga announced that legal actions against the State are being evaluated.
A similar case involves another Ecuadorian vessel, the ‘Don Maca’, which departed from the Port of Manta on March 17, 2026, with 20 crew members. Nine days later, on March 26, 2026, the boat lost satellite and communication contact.
The crew also reported suffering a drone attack and subsequently being detained by US military personnel, before being transferred to El Salvador. Although the two incidents have close dates, the allegations treat the events as distinct, occurring at different times within the same period, according to the fishermen’s accounts.
These episodes occur in a context of intensified US military operations in the Pacific and Caribbean in recent months. American forces have been conducting actions against alleged drug trafficking vessels, often in cooperation with countries in the region.
Joint operations between Washington and Ecuador have been conducted in international waters, as reported by the RT portal. The allegations from Ecuadorian fishermen raise questions about the methods employed in these operations and the impact on civilians engaged in legitimate activities in the region.
The accusations against the US reignite debates about American military conduct in international waters, especially at a time when Washington positions itself as a defender of human rights and freedom of navigation.
Critics point to a contradiction, considering the US’s history of interventions in various regions, often marked by documented violations against civilian populations. While American authorities have not officially commented on the incidents involving the Ecuadorian vessels, the fishermen’s accounts and ongoing legal actions promise to keep the issue in the international spotlight.