Ecuador: another record cocaine seizure in Guayaquil, hub of drug trafficking

Cocaine (illustration photo).

© Getty Images/Kickers

Text by: RFI Follow

1 min

After Colombia and the United States, Ecuador is the third country where the most drugs were seized last year, with a total of more than 200 tons.

With a new record seizure of cocaine, Ecuador and in particular the port of Guayaquil confirm to be the main exit port for drug trafficking to Belgium and in particular the port of Antwerp.

A situation that worries the Belgian and European authorities.

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With our correspondent in Quito,

Éric Samson

The drugs were hidden in a container full of bananas, of which Ecuador is the world's largest exporter.

The catch is so important that it was entitled to a tweet from Fausto Salinas, the general commander of the national police who spoke of " 

record

" for the year 2023.

RECORD 2023 EN LA INCAUTACIÓN DE MÁS DE 8 TONELADAS DE COCAÍNA



Mediante técnicas de perfilamiento e investigación en contenedores en el puerto de #GYE



Avoiding the international trade of 90 million doses, valued in 330 million dollars in Europe#MásFuertesQueNunca pic.twitter. com/4U2UGhurYC

— GraD.

Fausto Salinas Samaniego (@CmdtPoliciaEc) February 26, 2023

The approximately 8,800 kilograms of cocaine seized in the port of Guayaquil, the largest in the country, represent more than a quarter of the catches made in Ecuador, 31 tons since the beginning of January.

" 

We avoided international trade of 90 million doses, worth $330 million in Europe

 ," Salinas said.

This record seizure confirms in any case the central role of the port of Guayaquil in drug trafficking, particularly to the port of Antwerp.

After having recently acknowledged this, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson is meeting these days with the Colombian and Ecuadorian authorities to strengthen anti-drug cooperation.

Traffickers use fresh fruit exports, especially bananas, to camouflage drug shipments.

To be perishable, these products are indeed subject to faster control procedures, even if the government has recently tightened them.

►Read also Ecuador: record cocaine seizures for a country that has become a traffic hub

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