Ecuador seizes 1.5 tonne cocaine shipment and 736 g hidden in airport cargo

Ecuadorian authorities confiscated an estimated 1.5 tonnes of cocaine in Samborondón, Guayas province, on 6 June 2026. The seizure was part of ongoing operations to curb the flow of narcotics through the country's coastal ports, which serve as transit points for shipments from Colombia and Peru to markets in Europe and North America.

In a separate operation at Quito International Airport, police uncovered 736 grams of cocaine concealed in double‑bottom coffee‑box containers destined for Sydney, Australia. The "Double Bottom Coffee Box" raid resulted in the capture of 280 packages, the arrests of two suspects, Manuel S. and Jeremy L., and sparked investigations across the provinces of Pichincha, Azuay, Loja and Guayas. The incidents underscore Ecuador's growing significance as a hub in international drug‑trafficking routes.