Ecuador police seize over 350 kg of cocaine in border province

Ecuadorian authorities have intercepted a significant drug trafficking operation, seizing over 350 kilograms of cocaine in the province of Carchi, an area bordering Colombia. The operation, which took place in the La Paz sector of Montúfar municipality, resulted in the apprehension of two individuals found with the illicit substance in a trailer.

During the bust, police confiscated the trailer used by the suspects, along with two mobile phones. The cocaine seized is estimated to be equivalent to 3.5 million doses. This seizure is part of Ecuador's ongoing efforts to combat drug smuggling, as the country has become a critical transit point for narcotics destined for North America and Europe.

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350.7 kilograms of cocaine, equivalent to 3.5 million doses.

In a separate but related operation, police also discovered and seized more than 1.2 tons of sodium bicarbonate, a key chemical precursor used in the production of drugs. This discovery was made in the Kennedy sector, north of the capital city, Quito. Investigations revealed an unregistered property functioning as a temporary storage site for these chemicals, which were allegedly intended for clandestine laboratories further north.

Authorities estimate that this intervention prevented the production of approximately 3.5 tons of cocaine hydrochloride. Ecuador ranks as the third-largest country globally for drug seizures, following Colombia and the United States, confiscating around 200 tons annually since 2021 and reaching a record nearly 300 tons in 2024. The country's strategic location, bordered by major coca-producing nations and possessing key ports, makes it a vital corridor for international drug trafficking.

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with this intervention, the production of approximately 3.5 tons of cocaine hydrochloride was avoided.