Three tons of cocaine ready to be shipped to Europe found in Ecuador

Ecuadorian authorities have reported the seizure of three tons of cocaine hidden in a container with plastic bags in Puerto Bolivar, specifically at the El Oro terminal.

The discovery occurred during a pre-shipment inspection of a group of containers, according to the Ecuadorian newspaper ‘El Universo’.

The agents checked 355 plastic export bags, 108 of which contained multicolored plastic fragments, which tested positive for drugs.

The alert was given by a police dog, Janice, who alerted the agents to the presence of drugs and prompted the inspection of the container. The cargo was destined for Belgium, one of the European destinations to which drugs are exported, where it could have reached a value of more than 200 million dollars (euros).

Ecuador is the third country in the world with the most cocaine seized -only after Colombia and the United States– for being not only a transit country but also a drug distribution and export center.

According to Ecuador’s Anti-Narcotics Police in 2020, 128.4 tons of drugs were seized, while in 2021 there were 210 tons. In the first semester 104 tons of drugs were seized, 29 percent more than in 2021.