Amnesty Demands Probe Into Disappearance of Ecuadorian Fishing Boat

The Fiorella departed Jaramijó on January 15 with 10 crew members, losing contact shortly after entering international waters. According to the ship's captain, Juan Carlos Valencia, the vessel faced sustained surveillance by aircraft and drones bearing U.S. markings in the days leading up to its disappearance. On January 20, crew members on auxiliary skiffs witnessed a large column of smoke rising from the boat’s position, yet the U.S. military has issued no acknowledgment of a strike.

This incident mirrors reports involving two other vessels, the Negra Francisca Duarte II and the Don Maca, which were allegedly struck by U.S. drones in March. Survivors from those ships claimed they were captured and tortured before being released. Families of the missing Fiorella crew describe a wall of silence from Ecuadorian authorities, who have suggested the victims were involved in drug trafficking rather than assisting in a search. Amnesty’s Americas director, Ana Piquer, warned that if U.S. responsibility is confirmed, the total number of extrajudicial executions and enforced disappearances linked to these operations could be significantly higher than previously estimated. The organization is now calling on the U.S. Department of Justice and Congress to conduct a transparent inquiry into these maritime strikes.