Ecuador has released a survivor from a US strike on a submarine believed to be involved in drug smuggling in the Caribbean. US military forces apprehended the Ecuadorean national, along with a Colombian citizen, after targeting the submarine they were on. President Donald Trump had stated that the individuals would be returned to their home countries for detention and prosecution. However, the Ecuadorean Attorney General’s office announced that the Ecuadorean national could not be detained due to a lack of evidence pointing to a crime committed within Ecuadorian territory.
This incident is part of a broader US counter-narcotics operation in the region, which has seen several strikes on vessels suspected of drug trafficking. The Ecuadorean survivor was identified as Andrés Fernando Tufiño. He and the Colombian man, identified as Jeison Obando Pérez, are the first individuals to survive such strikes, which have been occurring since early September as part of a significant US deployment. Reports indicate that two other individuals on the semi-submersible perished in the attack.
While the US military claims that at least 32 people have been killed in these operations, legal experts have raised questions about the international legality of these strikes. The Trump administration maintains that its targets are “narco-terrorists.”
President Trump commented on the survivors, noting they were on a submarine specifically designed for transporting large quantities of drugs, emphasizing their involvement in illicit activities. He also shared a video of the submarine being struck. The two survivors were rescued by a US military helicopter and subsequently taken aboard a US warship before being repatriated. According to reports, the Ecuadorean survivor was in good health, and the Ecuadorian government found no evidence linking him to crimes within their jurisdiction.
The Colombian survivor reportedly sustained a traumatic brain injury and required medical support upon arrival in his home country. Colombian officials confirmed he was on a vessel carrying cocaine, which is a crime in Colombia.
US officials state that the deployment primarily targets vessels departing from Venezuela, with President Trump accusing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a drug-trafficking organization. Maduro has denied these accusations, suggesting the operations are aimed at regime change. The US has increased pressure on Venezuela, including authorizing covert operations.
Previous strikes have reportedly targeted the Tren de Aragua gang, based in Venezuela. However, questions are emerging about the identities of individuals on other targeted vessels. The President of Colombia previously criticized a US strike in Colombian territorial waters as “murder,” leading to a strong response from President Trump, who threatened to cut aid and impose tariffs on Colombian goods.
Media outlets in Trinidad and Tobago have also called for an investigation into reports of their nationals being killed in one of the strikes. Trinidad and Tobago’s government, however, has expressed support for the US military operations, viewing them as crucial for regional peace and security.