New Evidence Links U.S. to Attack on Ecuadorian Vessel Fiorella; Urgent Investigation Demanded

New evidence suggests the United States may be involved in the disappearance of the Ecuadorian vessel Fiorella, which vanished on January 20 with eight crew members still missing.

Eight families have waited nearly seven months for answers while evidence mounts that the vessel was tracked by non-governmental aircraft before it vanished in international waters.

Private Aircraft and Military Facilities in El Salvador

An investigation published by The New York Times on August 12 revealed that a maritime patrol plane tracked the Fiorella for four days leading up to its disappearance. The aircraft was based at a military facility in El Salvador and operated by English-speaking pilots.

The aircraft was not part of the official U.S. government fleet. Instead, it was registered to a private company in Virginia. This registration suggests a possible collaboration between private entities and U.S. authorities to monitor Ecuadorian vessels.

Allegations of CIA Covert Operations

The Washington Post expanded the scope of the controversy on August 13, reporting that the attack on the Fiorella was part of a covert program managed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The report alleges the program operated with the alleged direct approval of the President of the United States.

This allegation places the incident within the context of President Trump’s anti-drug policy. According to Ana Piquer, Americas Director at Amnesty International, these operations have targeted numerous vessels in the Pacific and Caribbean over the past year.

“The U.S. role in this attack is becoming increasingly difficult to deny. U.S. authorities must conduct an impartial investigation into the incident and, if there is sufficient and admissible evidence, establish criminal liability in the case.”

The scale of the alleged violence is significant. Piquer stated that human rights violations linked to these attacks include more than 200 possible extrajudicial executions.

Mapping the Final Moments of the Fiorella

Amnesty International used Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data to reconstruct the ship’s final journey. The data confirms the Fiorella departed from the port of Jaramijó on January 13.

The vessel transmitted its final signal on January 20. At that moment, the ship was in international waters located between the Ecuadorian coast and the Galápagos Islands. Of the ten crew members on board, eight remain missing.

Demands for Congressional Oversight

The evidence provided by The New York Times and The Washington Post has led to calls for legislative action within the United States.