1.4 tonnes of cocaine seized near Galápagos archipelago
Units of the Navy and National Police found 32 packages of narcotics at sea, 435 kilometres south of San Cristóbal, during maritime patrol operations.
1.4 tonnes of cocaine seized near Galápagos archipelago
Ecuadorian security forces successfully seized 1.4 tonnes of cocaine in an operation conducted in waters near the Galápagos Islands. The shipment was distributed among 32 packages floating in the Pacific Ocean, at a distance of 235 nautical miles—equivalent to 435 kilometres—south of San Cristóbal Island.
The discovery was made during a maritime patrol coordinated between the Ecuadorian Navy and the National Police, with support from intelligence units. A coast guard vessel spotted the packages and initiated collection procedures. Initially, the Armed Forces had announced the discovery on the previous Wednesday, but without specifying either the type or weight of the seized substance.
Initial findings from the investigation suggest that those responsible threw the cargo overboard to evade inspections by authorities. It is estimated that the shipment was destined for consumers on other continents, utilising couriers employed by criminal networks of global reach. The economic damage to such organisations is calculated at approximately 90 million dollars.
Ecuador's geographical position—bordering the planet's main cocaine-producing countries—combined with its dollarisation and the existence of strategic ports, has made the territory a frequent transit point for narcotics destined for Europe and North America.
Official figures indicate that in 2025, anti-drug operations in the country seized 227.1 tonnes of illicit substances, predominantly cocaine. This amount is approximately 67 tonnes lower than that recorded in 2024, the year which set a historical record with 294.61 tonnes seized.
_Source: Infobae_
Source: Google News EC — Crime