Joint investigation leading to 31 arrests targeted leaders of criminal network importing large cocaine shipments to the EU through Ecuadorian fruit companies
On 6 February, a Spanish-led investigation involving Ecuador and supported by Europol, resulted in a major hit on a high-risk drug trafficking network supplying cocaine to the EU. To support the field activities on the action day, Europol deployed two experts to coordination centres set up in Marbella, Spain and Quito, Ecuador. Europol also funded the deployment of two Spanish investigators to Ecuador to enable further coordination between the national authorities on the ground in Ecuador and Spain.
The joint action day in Spain and Ecuador led to:
- 31 arrests (13 in Spain and 18 in Ecuador);
- 2 High Value Targets arrested;
- 66 location searches (22 in Spain and 40 in Ecuador);
- Seizures included: 25 vehicles, 10 firearms, electronic equipment estimated at about EUR 13 million and almost EUR 3 million cash in various currencies, including euros;
- Property frozen for a total value of about EUR 48 million (EUR 12 million in Spain and EUR 36 in Ecuador).
