Three arrested for illegal sea cucumber transport in Guayaquil

Ecuadorian authorities have initiated criminal proceedings against three men apprehended in Guayaquil for the illegal transport of 255 sea cucumbers. The arrests occurred on June 10, 2026, following a tip about the illicit movement of wildlife in a private vehicle along the Daule highway.

During a police operation, officers intercepted a car and discovered a plastic bag in the trunk containing the marine specimens. Specialists from the National Unit for Investigation of Crimes against the Environment and Nature (Unidcan) and the Ministry of Environment and Energy were called to identify the cargo. Their analysis confirmed the haul consisted of 255 individuals of Isostichopus fuscus, commonly known as the sea cucumber.

This species is under special protection according to Ecuadorian environmental law and international conservation agreements. The confiscated sea cucumbers were handed over to the Ministry of Environment for administrative management. A judge has ordered pre-trial detention for the three accused, Jaime Iván Ch. P., Edy Targelio M. P., and Miguel Adali C. A., with a 30-day period set for the fiscal investigation. Under Ecuador's Organic Integral Penal Code, crimes against wildlife carry prison sentences ranging from one to three years.