Over a ton of cocaine found in banana shipment bound for England

Ecuadorian authorities have intercepted a substantial drug shipment, seizing over a ton of cocaine concealed within a cargo of bananas bound for England. The operation took place early Thursday morning at Puerto Bolívar in the El Oro province.

During routine inspections prior to the cargo's departure, specialized anti-narcotics teams detected irregularities in two pallets of bananas. A detailed search revealed 1,080 blocks of cocaine hidden among the fruit. Preliminary tests confirmed the substance as hydrochloride cocaine, weighing approximately 1.08 tons.

As a result of the operation, one individual, identified as Marcos Alberto V. R., was apprehended, and a truck used for transporting the contaminated cargo was impounded for further investigation. Police stated that this seizure prevented a significant quantity of drugs from reaching the international market and cut off substantial revenue for drug trafficking organizations.

The economic impact of this bust is estimated at over $3.3 billion for criminal structures. Authorities also highlighted that the seizure removed approximately 1.3 billion doses of narcotics from the illegal market. This action is part of Ecuador's "Operational Strategy 3D," aimed at dismantling criminal organizations by disrupting their logistics, routes, and funding.