The Ecuadorian navy has intercepted about one ton of cocaine from the container ship Guayaquil Express off the coast of Manta.
The vessel operated by Hapag Lloyd was en route from the Posorja terminal to the Panama Canal when naval forces boarded and conducted an inspection.
Per reports, the navy received a tip-off about possible drug smuggling on the vessel. Upon inspection, authorities found nearly 1,745 blocks of controlled substances divided into 20 packages weighing about 40 kg each.
The drugs were later transferred to the port of Manta for further legal procedures and investigation.