Provincial governor Juan Jaramillo has confirmed that American Special Forces Green Berets are conducting joint operations with local forces against drug cartels.

Jaramillo said “The 7th (Special Forces) Group of the U.S. Army have been operating in the Esmeraldas province, carrying out joint operations with Ecuadorian forces”. The region borders Colombia and has been hit with violence tied to the drug trade and the Green Berets are helping fight cartels.

The 7th Special Forces Group is based at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, and focuses on Latin America as its primary responsibility. Jaramillo did not say how many U.S. soldiers were in the province or who they are targeting. 

In May the 7th Special Forces Group were training with Ecuadorian troops as part of a Joint Combined Exchange Training, PANAMAX 2026 exercise.