Spain’s Civil Guard says a multiyear investigation with Ecuador’s National Police leads to the arrest of 44 people and the seizure of 21 tons of cocaine. The operation targets a drug smuggling ring that moves cocaine from South America into Spain using shipping containers and commercial cargo. Spanish authorities say the investigation is carried out with Ecuadorian counterparts and is overseen by Europol.
According to the Civil Guard, the first wave of arrests occurs in Ecuador in March 2025, when Ecuadorian police detain 36 suspects and raid around 50 properties. Spanish authorities later conduct raids in Spain, arresting eight additional suspects and confiscating about 1 million euros. Spanish and Ecuadorian police say the cocaine is hidden among commercial goods shipped primarily from the port of Guayaquil. The outlets also report that smugglers in Ecuador have used regular commercial shipments to Europe to conceal drugs, including in cargo associated with fruit, such as bananas.
