US troops and the DEA helped Ecuador dismantle a CJNG cell, arresting more than 30 members, Ecuador’s interior minister said Thursday. Over 30 Ecuadorans were arrested for allegedly belonging to the group with a direct connection to the CJNG.
Around 320 Ecuadoran police officers and 50 uniformed soldiers from the U.S. Southern Command (USSOCOM) took part in the operation spanning several cities across Ecuador. US military personnel included US Army Green Berets and US Marine Raiders (MARSOC).
According to John Reimberg, Ecuador’s interior minister; “this organization has no ties to local gangs. It had a direct relationship with the CJNG. The investigation took nearly eight months. The structure was engaged in the collection, intermediation, distribution, transportation, and marketing of large quantities of drugs originating from Colombia, which were intended to be shipped by sea from the ports of Guayaquil and Machala to Central America, the United States, and Europe. To reach this structure, throughout this year, there has been an impact of $322 million across all seized drug shipments.”
The State Department recently designated the Ecuadorian gang Los Tiguerones as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), accusing it of helping Mexican cartels transport drugs and attacking civilians, police officers and journalists.
The Trump administration had previously designated Los Choneros and Los Lobos, two other Ecuadorian gangs, as terrorist organizations.
The operation follows Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Ecuador, Colombia and Peru for talks on security and regional cooperation.
US Troops at Taura Base Controversy
On September 8, Ecuador Air Force Commander Gen. Mauricio Salazar Machuca sent an official letter to the Joint Command requesting guidelines defining who authorizes, coordinates, supervises, and controls U.S. activities at national military installations. The letter insisted the Ecuador Air Force retain operational and administrative control of the Taura base, and that any adaptation be temporary and pre-authorized. Gen. Salazar’s message noted that U.S. personnel plan to use the base temporarily to carry out support flights, which requires adapting and using part of the base’s infrastructure.
“We’re conducting joint operations now. We don’t necessarily need to have a base here… We’re open to it if they change their mind,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said during a visit to Ecuador. In a November 2025 referendum, 60% of Ecuadorian voters rejected reversing a 2008 constitutional provision prohibiting foreign military bases.
Two days later, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa removed Gen. Salazar from his position.
