Floating Drug Refueling Vessel Erupts In Massive Fireball Before Sinking In Eastern Pacific

U.S. forces boarded and destroyed a floating refueling station allegedly supporting illicit at-sea drug trafficking operations, with overhead footage capturing the vessel erupting in a fireball before sinking.

On Sept. 7, Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere forces, under the direction of U.S. Southern Command, interdicted the vessel after intelligence confirmed its involvement with the Los Choneros violent narco-terrorist organization.

The black-and-white footage shows the workboat underway as a helicopter flies nearby and a smaller boat moves through the water. A boarding team in helmets and vests approaches on a rigid-hull boat and moves alongside the vessel.

The boarding team later pulls away from the target. Seconds later, an explosion tears through the vessel amidships, sending flames, smoke and spray into the air.

The hull continues burning and begins to list before settling low in the water beneath a thick smoke plume.

Individuals removed from the vessel will be transferred to Ecuadorian authorities. After clearing the vessel and disembarking the crew, U.S. forces sank the empty hull.

SOUTHCOM said the operation was part of ongoing efforts to dismantle logistical networks supporting narco-trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. Similar board-and-sink operations took place on Aug. 28 and Sept. 2, 3, 5 and 7.