US Treasury sanctions Ecuador-to-US cocaine trafficking network
QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — The U.S. Treasury on Thursday sanctioned 15 people for their involvement in a network that allegedly shipped thousands of kilograms of cocaine…
The U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on 15 individuals connected to a cocaine trafficking network that allegedly transported thousands of kilograms of cocaine monthly from Ecuador to the United States via Mexico. The Treasury disclosed this on Thursday, highlighting the operation's use of legitimate fishing businesses to covertly move illicit drugs.
Los Choneros and Los Lobos, two Ecuadorean gangs labeled as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S., are among those targeted. The narcotics are believed to be smuggled through Mexico by the Sinaloa Cartel and Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), which are also designated foreign terrorist organizations. Ecuador has faced significant drug-related challenges since 2021, with a recent record-high homicide rate of 50 murders per 100,000 residents.
The nation's strategic location between Colombia and Peru, both major cocaine-producing countries, exacerbates these issues. Ecuador has recently cooperated closely with the U.S. in anti-narcotics efforts under the administration of President Daniel Noboa.
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Also reported by 1 other outlet
- US Treasury sanctions Ecuador-to-US cocaine trafficking network winnipegfreepress.com
