The Ecuadorian Navy intercepted the containership Guayaquil Express approximately 45 nautical miles from Manta, discovering about 1,745 blocks of suspected illegal drugs during a special operation.
Coast Guard Command and Marine Infantry units conducted the interdiction operation after receiving intelligence about possible smuggling aboard the vessel.
Ecuador’s Armed Forces reported that the inspection was successfully carried out while the ship remained underway.
Authorities seized approximately one ton of illegal substances, suspected to be cocaine, which were subsequently transported to Manta’s port for legal processing and analysis.
Ecuador has emerged as a significant transit point for cocaine originating from Colombia and Peru.
The Guayaquil Express is operated by Hapag-Lloyd and has continued its voyage towards the Panama Canal.
“This operation reinforces the commitment of the Ecuadorian Navy to the fight against drug trafficking and maritime protection and security in aquatic spaces,” stated authorities.
Sign up for gCaptain’s newsletter and never miss an update
Essential maritime and offshore news, insights, and updates delivered daily straight to your inbox
Hundreds of thousands of containers are in limbo after ocean carriers suspend cargo bookings to Arabian Container Ports.
The world’s most vital energy artery is under siege. Following coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top military commanders, the Strait of...
Hapag-Lloyd has agreed to acquire ZIM Integrated Shipping Services for $4.2 billion in a deal that would cement its position among the world’s top five container carriers, expand its Transpacific footprint, and add significant LNG-powered capacity to its fleet.
Subscribe to gCaptain Daily and stay informed with the latest global maritime and offshore news
Essential news coupled with the finest maritime content sourced from across the globe.
Sign Up
Join The Club
