Ecuador admits it can’t find fishermen allegedly struck by US

Guayaquil: Ecuador admitted it faces challenges in its investigation into eight fishermen who went missing in the Pacific Ocean. The United States began ordering strikes on boats in the Pacific and Caribbean in September, alleging they were trafficking drugs. Eight Ecuadoran fishermen went missing on the Fiorella boat, which their families claim was set ablaze by the US military.

Washington denies involvement, but two surviving crew members claim they saw English-speaking individuals wearing US uniforms deploy drones. The incident was brought to the United Nations Committee on Enforced Disappearances, which in April called on Ecuador to investigate. Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa's administration acknowledged the lack of progress in the search and related probe in May.

The investigation identified several issues, including a lack of direct support from the National Police and ineffective coordination with armed forces and Navy-controlled port authority. Relatives of the missing fishermen demand answers. The Coast Guard head told the relatives to forget about it, saying the boat was lost and they might have been up to no good.