Ecuador has released the survivor of a US strike on a submarine alleged to have been smuggling drugs in the Caribbean. US military forces captured the Ecuadorean national along with a Colombian citizen after they attacked the submarine the two were on. US President Donald Trump said they would be returned to their countries of origin for detention and prosecution.
However, the Ecuadorean Attorney General's office stated that the survivor could not be detained due to no report of a crime that has been brought to the attention of this institution. The US has conducted several strikes on what it describes as drug-smuggling vessels in the region.
Andrés Fernando Tufiño and Colombian survivor Jeison Obando Pérez were identified as the first two individuals to survive a US attack targeting drug-smuggling operations. Reports indicate that two other men aboard the semi-submersible were killed in the strike.
Since the beginning of September, the US military has reportedly killed at least 32 individuals in various strikes against vessels linked to drug trafficking. Critics question the legality of these operations, suggesting they potentially breach international law, while the Trump administration insists they target narco-terrorists.
President Trump stated that the vessel was involved in transporting mostly fentanyl, and other illegal narcotics, although experts highlight that fentanyl primarily enters the US from Mexico and not from Caribbean countries.
Around 10,000 US troops and numerous military assets have been deployed as part of the operation, primarily targeting vessels departing from Venezuela. Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of overseeing a significant drug trafficking group, an allegation Maduro denies.
The strikes sparked significant diplomatic tensions, with Colombian President Gustavo Petro calling one incident in Colombian waters murder. In contrast, Ecuador has emphasized a lack of legal grounds for detaining Tufiño, with reports indicating that he was not confirmed to have violated Ecuadorean laws.
As the situation develops, questions about the targeting criteria of US operations and the impacts on regional relations continue to emerge.
However, the Ecuadorean Attorney General's office stated that the survivor could not be detained due to no report of a crime that has been brought to the attention of this institution. The US has conducted several strikes on what it describes as drug-smuggling vessels in the region.
Andrés Fernando Tufiño and Colombian survivor Jeison Obando Pérez were identified as the first two individuals to survive a US attack targeting drug-smuggling operations. Reports indicate that two other men aboard the semi-submersible were killed in the strike.
Since the beginning of September, the US military has reportedly killed at least 32 individuals in various strikes against vessels linked to drug trafficking. Critics question the legality of these operations, suggesting they potentially breach international law, while the Trump administration insists they target narco-terrorists.
President Trump stated that the vessel was involved in transporting mostly fentanyl, and other illegal narcotics, although experts highlight that fentanyl primarily enters the US from Mexico and not from Caribbean countries.
Around 10,000 US troops and numerous military assets have been deployed as part of the operation, primarily targeting vessels departing from Venezuela. Trump has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of overseeing a significant drug trafficking group, an allegation Maduro denies.
The strikes sparked significant diplomatic tensions, with Colombian President Gustavo Petro calling one incident in Colombian waters murder. In contrast, Ecuador has emphasized a lack of legal grounds for detaining Tufiño, with reports indicating that he was not confirmed to have violated Ecuadorean laws.
As the situation develops, questions about the targeting criteria of US operations and the impacts on regional relations continue to emerge.
