Ecuador Frees Survivor of US Strike on Suspected Drug Submarine Amid Legal Review

Ecuador has released Andrés Fernando Tufiño, one of two survivors from a U.S. military strike on a suspected drug-trafficking semi-submersible vessel in the Caribbean Sea, after prosecutors found no evidence linking him to any crime within Ecuador's jurisdiction. The U.S. operation resulted in two deaths and two survivors—Tufiño from Ecuador and another from Colombia—who were rescued by U.S. forces. President Donald Trump described the vessel as heavily loaded with narcotics, including fentanyl, and announced the survivors would be repatriated for detention and prosecution. However, Ecuadorian authorities emphasized the lack of legal grounds for detaining Tufiño, highlighting discrepancies between U.S. accusations and local investigations. The Colombian survivor remains critically ill and is expected to face prosecution, while Tufiño's release raises questions about the evidence behind U.S. claims and the legality of these extrajudicial operations. The incident underscores the challenges and complexities of cross-border cooperation in combating drug trafficking in the Caribbean region.