Ecuador’s Navy has seized around 1.7 tons of illicit drugs from three intercepted boats in the Eastern Pacific, in an operation carried out with support from international agencies.
The vessels were later taken to the Manta Port Terminal, where authorities confirmed the quantity after a detailed inspection.
According to official information shared by Ecuador’s armed forces, the three boats were intercepted at sea and brought to port for further checks.
Once at the terminal, authorities ordered the removal and destruction of hidden double-bottom compartments built into the vessels.
During this process, officials found a total of 1,801 packages of illicit substances, confirming an estimated weight of about 1.7 tons.
Preliminary estimates suggest the shipment would have been worth around $45 million in the United States and approximately $63 million in the European market.
Authorities said the seizure directly impacts the finances of criminal groups involved in drug trafficking.
The operation was carried out with support from the Joint Interagency Task Force South, along with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Drug Enforcement Administration.
These agencies worked together to track and intercept the boats in the Eastern Pacific, which is known as a common route used for moving drugs from South America to other regions.
Reference: Armada del Ecuador
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