Madrid (Spain), 5 August (LaPresse/AP) – The Spanish Civil Guard has reported that a multi-year investigation, carried out in collaboration with the Ecuadorian authorities to dismantle a drug-trafficking organisation, has led to the arrest of 44 people and the seizure of 21 tonnes of cocaine. The Civil Guard stated that the operation, carried out in collaboration with the Ecuadorian National Police and under the supervision of Europol, was aimed at dismantling an organisation financed by investors in Dubai that was smuggling drugs from South America to Spain inside containers. The first arrests took place in March 2025, when the Ecuadorian police detained 36 suspects and carried out searches at around 50 properties across the country. Spanish officers subsequently arrested eight suspects during searches of properties in Spain, seizing 1 million euros. The traffickers were concealing the drugs amongst goods shipped mainly from the port of Guayaquil. Traffickers in Ecuador have long used commercial shipments to Europe to hide drugs, often amongst bananas.
Drugs: 44 arrests in Spain and Ecuador; 21 tonnes of cocaine seized
Madrid (Spain), 5 August (LaPresse/AP) – The Spanish Civil Guard has reported that a multi-year investigation, carried out in collaboration with the Ecuadorian authorities to dismantle a drug-trafficking organisation, has led to the arrest of 44 people and the seizure of 21 tonnes of cocaine. The Civil Guard stated that the operation, carried out in collaboration with the Ecuadorian National Police and under the supervision of Europol, was aimed at dismantling an organisation financed by investors in Dubai that was smuggling drugs from South America to Spain inside containers. The first arrests took place in March 2025, when the Ecuadorian police detained 36 suspects and carried out searches at around 50 properties across the country. Spanish officers subsequently arrested eight suspects during searches of properties in Spain, seizing 1 million euros. The traffickers were concealing the drugs amongst goods shipped mainly from the port of Guayaquil. Traffickers in Ecuador have long used commercial shipments to Europe to hide drugs, often amongst bananas.
