In a statement sent to The Associated Press, the Foreign Ministry said Ecuador is requesting compensation for the crew and for damage to the vessel.

The statement said the claim for compensation involved the Ecuadorean fishing vessel Ochossis, which it said was intercepted and boarded May 21 in the Pacific Ocean by the U.S. Coast Guard vessel Rentz on "suspicions of drug trafficking."

The U.S. Embassy has not responded publicly to the protest.

The Foreign Ministry said the U.S. Coast Guard found no evidence to confirm suspicions of drug trafficking during its search of the Ecuadorean boat.

The captain of the fishing vessel said that during the search he and his crew were "submitted to psychological and physical mistreatment by the personnel of the Rentz," the statement said.

"In light of these acts constituting a violation of human rights, Ecuador's Foreign Ministry has requested that the U.S. government investigate the incident and apply sanctions against those responsible," the statement said.

The United States has been authorized by Ecuador's government to intercept Ecuadorean boats suspected of being involved in drug trafficking or the trafficking of illegal migrants to the United States.