ECUADOR - Another drug bust criminalizing fresh fruit has come to light, as the National Police has intercepted a cocaine trafficking and money laundering operation in Ecuador.

More than 800 officers worked on the operation, which led to the arrest of 32 people, including detainees in Andalucía among 13 in Spain, according to reports from SUR in English.

As the source reported, the criminal organization had the collaboration of personnel in ports or businessmen dedicated to importing fruit to enable the group to hide the drugs within fruit boxes. This drug bust contributed to the 3,210 kilos of cocaine seized internationally between 2019 and 2022, of which 200 kilos were smuggled into Spain through the port of Algeciras.

Funded by the European Commission, the investigation remains open. It began in 2020 when money laundering activities were detected in companies controlled by an Italian businessman based in Marbella, exporting bananas from Ecuador to Europe.

We thank the National Police for their efforts in stopping fresh produce from being used in drug trafficking and money laundering plans.

For more industry news, stick with ANUK.