The Europol bust discovers the Ecuador-EU drug network

A common US-Latin Operation has led to the confiscation of 73 tons of drugs and arrest 36 people in Ecuador and EU, Europol announce Friday. The bust targeted an Ecuadorian criminal cell accused of providing EN -GROS cocaine through major ports.

The large -scale investigation of drug trafficking, which involved the law enforcement in Ecuador, Germany and Spain, has focused on a criminal network in Ecuador, who is believed to have used ship containers to traffick cocaine in South America in Belgium, Germany, Netherlands and Spain.

According to Europol, the cell also managed financial flows through different companies and intermediaries and maintained contact with suppliers. Criminal cells in Germany and Spain, equipped with commercial and transport companies and drivers, were occupied by logistics and distributed drugs throughout the EU.

“Criminal networks work perfectly on oceans, and our answer must be as interconnected. The consolidation of cooperation with the Latin -American countries is essential – the organized crime approach requires a global effort ”, said the executive director of Europol, Catherine de Bolle.

Europol said the operation reflects wider efforts from the EU Member States and the Agency to dismantle the high -level criminal networks operating in major ports.