600 kilos of cocaine seized on the high seas off the Ecuadorian coast

On the high seas, the Ecuadorian Navy seized an artisanal fishing vessel carrying around 600 kilos of drugs, distributed in 28 packages. Among those arrested are two Ecuadorians and one Colombian.

According to the military institution, the boat was fiber-type and registered in the port of Manta, under the name Tres Marías I. Inspection of the boat took place 280 nautical miles southwest of that town.

The Ecuadorian Navy, in coordination with the National Police Unit for Combating Organized Crime (ULCO), arrested the crew members and confiscated the cocaine they were carrying, in addition to 4 cell phones, 1 satellite phone, 1 GPS, 2 spot location devices and cash from different countries: 40 Mexican pesos, 1,000 Chilean pesos, 500 Dominican pesos, 659,010 Colombian pesos and 15,839 US dollars.

Although Ecuador does not produce drugs, it is one of the routes that allows it to be sent to other countries. The report of the International Drug Control Strategy prepared by the United States Department of State indicates that shipments of cocaine and heroin, from Colombia and Peru, “are trafficked by land across porous borders and through sea routes” to Ecuador.

The National Police have reported that last week shipments of cocaine were seized in the port terminals of Guayaquil. In one case, about 2.8 tons of drugs were seized and hidden in a container carrying pineapples for export. In the other operation, 2.4 tons of drugs were seized and were to be sent to Sweden.

In January 2022, authorities seized 18 tons of drugs, a figure that multiplies seizures compared to the same period last year, when 8 tons were seized. But just as the amount of drugs seized increased, violent deaths have also increased nationwide. The data shows that homicides have tripled.

98% of the drug seized was cocaine. The Anti-Narcotics Unit of the Ecuadorian Police estimates that the operations allowed more than 168 million doses to be taken out of circulation. The drug seized is valued at more than USD 423 million in international markets.

Artisanal fishermen as prey to drug trafficking

According to a report by Carolina Loza, published in GK, “more than 900 Ecuadorian fishermen are imprisoned in the United States and Central America for attempted drug distribution.” The journalist explains that “la vuelta” is the colloquial name that describes the transport of cocaine on boats. The destination is often unknown, but they manage to reach it through a GPS. According to the report, for making “the return” fishermen would receive amounts ranging from $25,000.

Even, the report explains, fishermen who manage to deliver drugs face not being paid the agreed tariff, sometimes they are only paid one-third of the total. In other cases, they don't get paid. Others, those who manage to collect, are then extorted.

Poverty is one of the reasons why fishermen decide to transport drugs, despite the risks involved. Loza recalls that “fishing is a tough trade, with precarious working conditions: not only is there the danger of pirates and drug traffickers assaulting them on the high seas, nor are they affiliated with any form of social security”. A good day of fishing could leave the fisherman a profit close to 100 dollars, after 3 or 4 days, but if there are bad days, the fishermen have no profit.

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