Ecuador has released a man who survived a U.S. strike on a suspected drug-trafficking submersible vessel, the attorney general’s office said Monday, adding that the authorities had found no evidence that he had committed a crime.
The United States has deployed warships to the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela since August, attacking mostly boats that U.S authorities said were running drugs.
President Trump said the attack last week was on a “very large drug-carrying submarine” headed for the U.S.
Some regional leaders, like Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, have harshly criticized the U.S. attacks.
Mr. Trump later called Petro an “illegal drug leader” and threatened to cut off U.S. aid to the South American country.
A U.S. soldier who survived Ecuador has been freed. A. strike on a suspected drug-trafficking submersible vessel, the attorney general’s office announced on Monday. However, authorities did not find any evidence of his criminal activity.
After undergoing medical evaluations, a government official who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak on the subject told The Associated Press that the Ecuadorian man, named Andrés Fernando Tufiño, was in good health.
U. S. A person with knowledge of the situation told CBS News on Friday that the survivors of the attack were flown by a Navy helicopter from the semi-submersible to a Navy ship. Two crew members also perished in the attack.
U. A. The Ecuadorian man was repatriated by authorities, and according to a statement from the company’s attorney general’s office, there was “no report of a crime that has been brought to the attention of this institution” against him, so “he could not be detained.”. According to the statement, the man had “no pending cases against him.”.
Additionally, a Colombian national who was repatriated to his home country is still in the hospital after surviving. According to Interior Minister Armando Benedetti, he “arrived with brain trauma, sedated, drugged, breathing with a ventilator.”. He would be prosecuted, according to the local authorities.
Since August, the US has sent warships to the Caribbean off the coast of Venezuela, hitting primarily U.S. authorities claimed to be involved in drug trafficking. At least 32 people have died as a result of the raids, which have infuriated some South American leaders.
According to President Trump, a “very large drug-carrying submarine” bound for the United States was attacked last week. S. The men on board were called “terrorists” by him. “..”.
The submarine was allegedly loaded with fentanyl and other drugs, according to a social media post by Mr. Trump. Most fentanyl flows into the United States, so there is little evidence that it is produced in the Andes, which includes Ecuador. S. . over Mexico.
A brief video of the strike was shared by the Pentagon on social media. There were no additional details about the attack provided by the Department of Defense Rapid Response.
“Narco subs,” or semisubmersibles, are unable to submerge completely. However, since the vessels can occasionally avoid law enforcement detection, international drug traffickers have been using them more frequently.
inquired as to why the two survivors weren’t brought to the Union. A. Vice President JD Vance told reporters that he doesn’t “really care” what happens to them, to be prosecuted, “so long as they’re not bringing poison into our country.”.
In a Monday X post that tagged Mr. Trump’s account, Ecuador’s president Daniel Noboa declared that his administration was committed to combating drug trafficking.
“Ecuador remains steadfast in the worldwide battle against illicit mining and drug trafficking, issues that necessitate solidarity among countries dedicated to peace and prosperity,” Noboa stated.
Once regarded as one of the safest countries in Latin America, Ecuador has witnessed a sharp increase in violence in recent years.
It has developed into a significant drug transit hub due to its advantageous location between Colombia and Peru, two of the biggest producers of cocaine worldwide.
Some regional leaders have vehemently criticized the U.S., such as President Gustavo Petro of Colombia. S. . assaults.
Petro wrote in a post on X that the U. S. . The operation was a component of a “failed strategy” to regulate Latin America. and acquire inexpensive oil from Venezuela. “.”.
Petro made the accusation against the U. A. causing one of its strikes to strike a fishing vessel. Petro was later referred to as an “illegal drug leader” by Mr. Trump, who also threatened to cut off U.S. A. assistance to the nation in South America.
