U.S. forces intercepted and sank a floating refueling vessel in the Eastern Pacific on Monday that U.S. officials said was supporting drug trafficking operations linked to Ecuador’s Los Choneros criminal organization.

The operation was conducted by Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere under the direction of U.S. Southern Command. According to the military, intelligence confirmed the vessel was involved with Los Choneros and was being used as part of the group’s maritime logistics network.

U.S. forces boarded and cleared the vessel before removing the individuals aboard. Those individuals are being transferred to Ecuadorian authorities, after which the vessel was sunk.

The operation marks the fifth vessel targeted by U.S. forces in recent weeks that officials have identified as a floating refueling station supporting maritime drug trafficking. Similar operations have targeted vessels associated with Los Choneros as part of a broader U.S.-Ecuadorian effort to disrupt the gang’s logistics network.

U.S. Southern Command said the repeated interdictions are intended to dismantle the maritime infrastructure used to facilitate narcotics trafficking in the Western Hemisphere.

Ecuador has previously described the U.S. operations as part of a joint anti-drug investigation. Ecuadorian officials have said the vessels were being used to refuel speedboats carrying drugs north toward Mexico and the United States.

The latest operation was completed without reported injuries among U.S. personnel, and Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere said it will continue conducting operations against maritime networks supporting drug trafficking in the region.