In a rural community in Ecuador, the family and loved ones of Andrés Fernando Tufiño Chila continue to grieve not knowing where their son’s life ended. At 41 years old, Tufiño Chila recently survived a U.S. military strike on a vessel alleged to be involved in drug trafficking. The bust was aimed at a Mexican sub on its way to the United States, and Tufiño Chila was one of just two survivors. His sister has converted his room into a shrine. She continues to light a candle and maintain his clothes folded on the bed in expectation that he will come home one day.
Tufiño Chila’s family vehemently defends their father as a simple man, a poor, desperate father. Their primary concern was caring for his six kids, despite his abusive history. In 2020, authorities finally caught up with him when they arrested him for drug smuggling off the coast of Mexico. Federal prosecutors won a conviction and he was immediately deported to Ecuador. His sister, who has kept his memory alive in their home, claims she knows nothing about his alleged involvement with drug trafficking and firmly believes he is not a criminal.
“No, no … He’s not. He’s not a criminal,” – Tufiño Chila’s sister.
What led up to Tufiño Chila’s experience sheds light on the challenges faced by many of the region’s fishermen today. With few options for legal livelihoods, some get caught up in illegal economies simply due to lack of alternatives. As one local fishermen put the grim situation for so many in the community, “Life is difficult. Life is tough. It’s just bad.”
Somebody needs to advocate for you,” Tufiño Chila last heard from his sister nearly a year ago. He explained to her that he was going out to fish for his job. That all changed one fateful day when he decided to board a vessel with possible drug traffickers. That same ship would be soon after targeted by U.S. military forces. After the military action, Tufiño Chila and the other survivor were deported back to their countries of origin. Upon returning home, Ecuadorian authorities released the TAPI leader this week.
Even with his extensive criminal history, Tufiño Chila’s family does point to the challenges he experienced in attempting to provide for his children. Though his wife left him and took their children — all of whom rarely, if ever, return home — he sent money back home whenever possible. This constant fight against an abyss is representative of a much larger fight in communities where economic prospects are bleak, forcing people to make dangerous decisions.
The tragedy invites urgent considerations of how U.S. military aid and other assistance affects families such as Tufiño Chila’s. Drug trafficking is a constant weight on the shoulders of places throughout Latin America and beyond. As always, those who get stuck in the middle—workers just trying to feed their families—suffer the most.
Tufiño Chila’s family and supporters continue to hope. They wish for a resolution that will allow him to restore his life and be with his children again. She clings to images of him being a devoted dad. They wouldn’t allow him to be just another statistic in the never-ending war on drugs. As they do, the community faces a sober truth about their new reality. They know families everywhere are facing the same challenges, inching toward stability in the wake of disaster.
