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Ecuador seizes 2.4 tons of cocaine hidden in export fruit
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Economy & Trade

Ecuador seizes 2.4 tons of cocaine hidden in export fruit

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Ecuadorian police seized 2.4 tons of cocaine hidden in export fruit boxes at a port in Machala.
  • The cocaine, destined for the European market, has an estimated street value of $136.6 million.
  • The seizure is part of a larger effort in Ecuador, which has confiscated over 70 tons of drugs by the end of May.

Ecuadorian authorities have intercepted a significant drug shipment, seizing 2.4 tons of cocaine concealed within boxes of export bananas at a port in Machala, El Oro province. The operation, conducted by the National Anti-Drug Investigation Unit in coordination with European counterparts, uncovered 2,493 packages of the substance.

Interior Minister John Reimberg announced the discovery, stating the cocaine has an estimated market value of $136.6 million in Europe. The seized evidence includes the shipping container and seven security seals. El Oro province is a critical transit point for drug trafficking organizations using Ecuador's ports to ship narcotics, originating from Colombia or Peru, to Europe and North America.

This latest bust is part of a broader crackdown on drug smuggling in Ecuador. By the end of May, the Ministry of the Interior reported that over 70 tons of drugs had been confiscated nationwide. The strategic location of Machala, a key port city bordering Peru, makes it a frequent target for traffickers seeking to move illicit goods internationally.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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