U.S. Special Forces Land in Ecuador — First Joint Ground Operation Targets Drug Cartels

This Is a Big Deal

On March 3, the United States and Ecuador launched joint military ground operations targeting drug trafficking organizations. This is the first time U.S. forces have conducted ground operations in Ecuador — a significant escalation in cooperation between the two countries.

Previously, U.S. involvement in Ecuador was limited to airstrikes against smuggling vessels in the Pacific and Caribbean, plus intelligence sharing. Now, U.S. Special Forces are physically on the ground in Ecuador, working alongside Ecuadorian commandos.

What Happened

The operation targeted Hernán Ruilova Barzola's drug trafficking network, linked to the Los Lobos cartel — one of Ecuador's most powerful criminal organizations. It was also connected to the Albanian mafia operating in Ecuador.

Here's what was seized and accomplished:

Result	Detail
Cocaine seized	6 tons (in Europe, linked to the network)
Suspects arrested	16
Cash seized	~$1 million
Raids conducted	26 (across Guayas, Pichincha, and El Oro)
Narco sub discovered	115-foot vessel, ready for a transoceanic voyage

The Narco Submarine

The most dramatic element: Ecuadorian forces discovered and sank a 115-foot narco-submersible in the Cayapas-Mataje mangrove forest near Ecuador's northern border with Colombia. Along with the sub, they found:

• 6 speedboats
• 7 outboard motors
• 25 diesel tanks (1,375 gallons combined)
• 6,000 gallons of fuel
• 120 empty fuel tanks
• Navigation equipment and a shotgun

This wasn't a makeshift operation — it was a sophisticated logistics hub for transoceanic drug shipments.

Why This Matters for Expats

The Security Picture

Ecuador has been battling a surge in drug-related violence since 2023. The coastal cities — Guayaquil, Esmeraldas, Manta — have been hardest hit, with cartel violence reaching levels that shocked the country. Cuenca has been relatively insulated, but not entirely immune (see our recent safety update).

The joint US-Ecuador operation signals that:

1. The government is taking an aggressive approach — this isn't symbolic; it's boots-on-the-ground military action
2. U.S. commitment is real — Special Forces deployment represents serious investment in Ecuador's security
3. The focus is on the coast and border regions, not the Sierra — Cuenca and the highlands are not operational zones

The Geopolitical Shift

This military cooperation, combined with the Cuba ambassador expulsion two days earlier and the recent US-Ecuador trade deal, paints a clear picture: Ecuador under President Noboa is firmly in the U.S. orbit.

For American and Canadian expats, this alignment generally means:

• More predictable diplomatic relations
• Continued security cooperation
• Economic integration (the trade deal)
• Stronger rule-of-law signals

What It Doesn't Mean

Don't expect to see U.S. military vehicles rolling through Cuenca. The operations are concentrated on the coast, border regions, and trafficking corridors. Life in the Sierra continues normally.

Also worth noting: some Ecuadorians and regional analysts have raised concerns about sovereignty and the precedent of foreign military operations on Ecuadorian soil. This is a live debate in the country.

The Bottom Line

This is the most significant security development in Ecuador since President Noboa declared the internal armed conflict in January 2024. The U.S.-Ecuador military partnership is now operational at a level nobody would have predicted two years ago.

For expats in Cuenca: the direct impact on daily life is minimal, but the broader security trajectory — aggressive action against cartels, backed by U.S. resources — is significant context for anyone who calls Ecuador home.

---

Sources: Axios, CNN, CBS News, SOUTHCOM, NBC News