Police in Ecuador have seized more than a tonne of cocaine in a raid illustrating a novel smuggling technique.
A drug gang in Ecuador has deployed a highly sophisticated new tactic by chemically impregnating cocaine directly into the cardboard of export shipping boxes to smuggle the drugs through South American ports. [1, 2]
Police in Ecuador intercepted a massive shipment of 1,252.8 kilograms (over 1.2 tonnes) of cocaine hidden inside the actual material of cardboard boxes. The container was bound for Spain and carried an estimated European market value of US$58.5 million. [1, 2]
How the New Tactic Works
Traffickers are pivoting toward “carrier materials” to bypass increasingly strict port security: [1]
- Chemical Infusion: Instead of hiding bricks of powder inside products, the cocaine is chemically altered and soaked directly into the corrugated cardboard layers. [1, 2]
- Evading Detection: This technique is specifically designed to trick standard customs x-ray machines and bypass sniffer K-9 inspections. [1]
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