In the last twelve days, the Manta Coast Guard Station has reported the seizure of 3.5 tons of drugs in three operations.
MANTA, Manabi
The next day the National Navy reported a new seizure of drugs on the high seas. In total 46 packages were thrown into the sea by subjects who were transported in a speedboat off the coast of Esmeraldas, according to the naval entity.
Cristian Fiallos, commander of the coast guard station located in Manta, said that the operation in which the National Police participated was carried out since last Sunday when the presence of a boat was detected that was moving in an area located 140 nautical miles from Manta towards the north of the country.
After the detection of a plane from the Manta Naval Air Station, the people transporting the drugs threw the packages into the water with a satellite buoy and subsequently fled.
The packages were adrift and elements of the Navy since last Sunday were in charge of the collection of the 46 bags, as well as 5 fuel cans that ended up abandoned in the water.
Fiallos pointed out that the weight of the seized drug amounts to 1.5 tons. Another similar operation was announced last Monday by the same commander. That day, a ton of drugs was seized about 35 nautical miles north of Manta.
Around a ton of drugs was thrown into the sea by boat crews after noticing a naval presence; occurred about 35 miles from Manta
Cristian Pozo, Chief of Staff of the maritime exploration squad, stressed that there is a constant process of support and logistics with the agencies that operate and allow illegal activities to be detected, including the National Police.
“There is a permanent surveillance of the territorial sea. There is permanent communication with all the units in the areas that have been highlighted once the operation has started, ”said Pozo.
In fact, of the more than 17 tons of drugs reported as seized in Manabí so far in 2021, about 10 were located offshore and taken to the Manta coast guard station, Fiallos said.
In 2020, in Manabí, 15.9 tons of drugs were reported as seized, according to the statistics of the National Police, that is, to date that figure was already exceeded in 2021 despite the fact that there are more than 50 days left until culminate this year.
In recent seizures, people who transport the drug when discovered have thrown it into the sea and fled before the arrival of naval vessels.
“These packages have been collected over several days because it is not so easy to collect the packages at sea due to drift, and it is presumed that they contain substances subject to control. In this way, the Armed Forces of Ecuador, through the national maritime authority, reaffirm their commitment to safeguard the safety of human life at sea 24 hours a day, ”said Fiallos.
On October 30, another discovery was made at sea, 46 nautical miles from Manta. On that occasion, elements of the Navy seized at least one ton of drugs distributed in 25 jute bags.
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