Ecuador says no evidence to detain survivor of U.S. strike on suspected drug vessel

Ecuador’s prosecutor’s office said on Monday (October 20, 2025) it would not detain the Ecuadorean survivor of a U.S. military strike on a suspected drug-trafficking vessel in the Caribbean.

The man, rescued by U.S. forces after the strike, arrived in Ecuador on Saturday (October 18, 2025) and was released after the prosecutor’s office said there was no evidence of a crime committed.

Also Read | U.S. will send survivors of strike on ‘drug-carrying submarine’ back to Ecuador and Colombia, says Trump

“After the citizen arrived, Anti-Narcotics agents approached the Flagrancy Unit to inform prosecutors, but no criminal report or notice of any crime committed in Ecuadorean territory was presented,” the office said.

Last week, the U.S. military struck a semi-submersible vessel, killing two crew members and rescuing two survivors —
one Ecuadorean and one Colombian.

In a social media post, United States President Donald Trump said: “U.S. Intelligence confirmed this vessel was loaded up with mostly Fentanyl, and other illegal narcotics.” Trump said on Saturday the survivors were being sent to their home countries for detention and prosecution.