US-Ecuador Joint Operation Targets Narco-Terrorism Network in Ecuador

US and Ecuadorian security forces carried out a joint operation aimed at dismantling a large-scale drug-trafficking network linked to the Los Lobos gang. The move, supported by Europol, led to the arrest of 16 suspects including a high-value target and involved more than 100 officers from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Ecuador.

Investigations show shipments of cocaine hidden in fruit shipments bound for Europe, with seizures totaling 3.7 tonnes in the Netherlands, just over 3 tonnes in Belgium, and more than half a tonne in Ecuador. The operation began earlier this year and included securing substantial cash, underscoring the scale of the trafficking network.

Officials say the operation follows Ecuador's president Daniel Noboa's comments about a new phase in the war on drug cartels, noting that around 70% of the world's cocaine flows through Ecuador's ports due to its strategic location between Colombia and Peru.

The network allegedly coordinated with an Albanian trafficking organization to route shipments through European ports, with distribution spread inland across multiple countries after arrival. These actions illustrate international cooperation against narco-terrorism and highlight ongoing efforts to curb both drug trafficking and its financing.

While details remain limited, authorities say the operation is part of a broader strategy to reduce violence and disrupt criminal networks in the region.

#DrugTrafficking #EcuadorUSOperation #NarcoTerrorism