### [2026-08-20](/feed/2026/08/20/index.md)

##### Ecuador–United States relations
# The U.S. Treasury Department issues sanctions on 15 people allegedly involved in a drug trafficking network shipping thousands of kilograms of cocaine from Ecuador through Mexico to the United States. 




### Sources:

1. [AP](https://apnews.com/article/us-treasury-ecuador-mexico-drug-trafficking-choneros-lobos-82270ff419944177276b7d655647739d)

### Related:

1. [The Spanish Civil Guard and the Ecuadorian National Police announce they have arrested 44 people and confiscated 21 tons of cocaine as part of a multiyear investigation on a drug trafficking ring financed by investors in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. ](/feed/2026/08/5/the-spanish-civil-guard-and-the-ecuadorian-national-police-announce-they-have-arrested-44-people-and-confiscated-21-tons.md) _Context: Ecuador, cocaine, drug trafficking_
2. [Spain's Civil Guard seizes between 30,000 to 45,000kg of cocaine on a cargo ship off the Canary Islands in what is the country's largest ever seizure of the illegal drug. Twenty people on board the vessel are arrested. ](/feed/2026/05/1/spain-s-civil-guard-seizes-between-30000-to-45000kg-of-cocaine-on-a-cargo-ship-off-the-canary-islands-in-what-is-the-c.md) _Context: cocaine, network_
3. [The United States charges Rubén Rocha Moya, the current governor of Sinaloa, Mexico, and nine other current and former politicians, with alleged drug and weapons trafficking charges and allegedly working with Mexican cartels, including Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. ](/feed/2026/04/29/the-united-states-charges-ruben-rocha-moya-the-current-governor-of-sinaloa-mexico-and-nine-other-current-and-former-p.md) _Context: Mexico, drug trafficking_
4. [Mexican police arrest six alleged Tren de Aragua members operating in Mexico City on charges of drug trafficking, extortion, and human trafficking. ](/feed/2026/01/13/mexican-police-arrest-six-alleged-tren-de-aragua-members-operating-in-mexico-city-on-charges-of-drug-trafficking-extort.md) _Context: Mexico, drug trafficking_
5. [Swedish police seize three tonnes of cocaine found in a shipping container from South America at the Port of Helsingborg, making it the country's single-largest seizure of the illegal drug. ](/feed/2026/01/12/swedish-police-seize-three-tonnes-of-cocaine-found-in-a-shipping-container-from-south-america-at-the-port-of-helsingborg.md) _Context: cocaine, network_
6. [Alejandro Gertz Manero resigns as Attorney General of Mexico, citing an invitation from President Claudia Sheinbaum to serve as ambassador to an unspecified country. His departure comes amid scrutiny over his role in overseeing multiple prominent investigations, the most recent being the Miss Universe 2025 controversy involving its co-owner, Rubén Rocha, who has been accused of cooperating in drug, fuel, and weapons trafficking in Mexico. ](/feed/2025/11/27/alejandro-gertz-manero-resigns-as-attorney-general-of-mexico-citing-an-invitation-from-president-claudia-sheinbaum-to-s.md) _Context: Mexico, drug trafficking_
7. [Ecuador extradites José Adolfo Macías Villamar, leader of the Los Choneros cartel, to the United States where he faces federal charges related to drug trafficking. ](/feed/2025/07/20/ecuador-extradites-jose-adolfo-macias-villamar-leader-of-the-los-choneros-cartel-to-the-united-states-where-he-faces-f.md) _Context: Ecuador, drug trafficking_
8. [Los Choneros gang leader José Adolfo Macías Villamar agrees to a request of Ecuador's National Court for extradition to the United States to face trial for drug trafficking and arms smuggling. ](/feed/2025/07/11/los-choneros-gang-leader-jose-adolfo-macias-villamar-agrees-to-a-request-of-ecuador-s-national-court-for-extradition-to.md) _Context: Ecuador, drug trafficking_
9. [A court in New York City indicts José Adolfo Macías Villamar, the leader of the organized crime syndicate Los Choneros, on seven counts of drug trafficking, conspiracy, arms trafficking, and illegal drug distribution in the United States. Villamar is not currently in U.S. custody. ](/feed/2025/04/2/a-court-in-new-york-city-indicts-jose-adolfo-macias-villamar-the-leader-of-the-organized-crime-syndicate-los-choneros.md) _Context: drug trafficking, network_
10. [Exceptions include Canada, Cuba, Mexico, North Korea, and Russia. Canada and Mexico had tariffs placed on them in February, while Cuba, North Korea, and Russia are under U.S. sanctions. ](/feed/2025/04/2/exceptions-include-canada-cuba-mexico-north-korea-and-russia-canada-and-mexico-had-tariffs-placed-on-them-in-februa.md) _Context: Mexico, sanctions_