The US military announced on Monday it launched a strike on a vessel in the eastern Pacific, killing two people and leaving one survivor.
US President Donald Trump's administration has touted its success in recent weeks at taking out suspected drug trafficking vessels.
The military said in a post on X that the vessel was "engaged in narco-trafficking operations".
Reuters could not immediately verify the information.
Ecuador's Maritime Rescue Coordination Center is coordinating the search and rescue operations, the US Coast Guard said in a statement, adding that it is providing technical support.
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