A P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft from the Air and Marine Operations division of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP AMO) identified a high-speed vessel in the Caribbean Sea, leading to an operation that seized nearly two tons of marijuana and arrested two Ecuadorian traffickers.
On June 11, while conducting a routine patrol, the aircraft's crew spotted a three-engine, Ecuadorian-style boat filled with fuel barrels and large packages speeding across the water. This was according to an official statement released by CBP AMO on Tuesday.
Immediately, the vessel's location was communicated to the Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South) and the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), who dispatched a helicopter and "Over-the-Horizon" surveillance boats to intercept the speeding craft.
After a flyover, the suspect vessel halted, allowing Coast Guard teams to take control. The operation resulted in the confiscation of 3,960 pounds of marijuana—equivalent to approximately 1,796 kilograms—and the arrest of two Ecuadorian nationals, as reported by CBP AMO.
Three-engine speedboats of Ecuadorian design are a well-documented drug transportation method along Western Hemisphere maritime routes, with crews from Ecuador frequently involved in operations in both the Pacific and the Caribbean.
CBP AMO praised the successful operation, stating, "Excellent teamwork and coordination between NASOC-JAX (National Air Security Operations Center-Jacksonville), JIATF-South, and the USCG!"
This incident is part of a series of significant drug seizures in the Caribbean during 2026. In April, the Coast Guard seized 7,050 pounds of cocaine in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, and in May, it intercepted a vessel off the coast of Haiti carrying 3,200 pounds of marijuana.
Since September 2025, the Trump administration has intensified anti-drug operations in the region, including lethal actions against drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Southern Command shot down a drug boat, resulting in the death of its two occupants, as part of the ongoing maximum pressure campaign against maritime drug trafficking.
The June 11 incident stands out because it involved marijuana—not the more commonly trafficked cocaine—and an Ecuadorian-style vessel operating in the Caribbean. This suggests trafficking routes connecting Ecuador with Caribbean and North American markets.
Key Details on the Ecuadorian Drug Boat Interception
How was the drug boat detected?
The drug boat was detected by a P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Air and Marine Operations division during a routine patrol.
What was seized during the operation?
The operation led to the seizure of 3,960 pounds of marijuana and the arrest of two Ecuadorian nationals.
Which organizations were involved in the interception?
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Joint Interagency Task Force South, and the U.S. Coast Guard were involved in the interception.