US Participates in Operation to Capture 39 Ecuadorians Trafficking Cocaine from Colombia

The United States collaborated with Ecuadorian authorities in a joint operation targeting drug trafficking networks. The operation, conducted under the leadership of the National Police of Ecuador and with support from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Southern Command, resulted in the arrest of 39 individuals, all Ecuadorian nationals, according to official figures.

The operation took place in Isla Mocoli, a residential area in the coastal city of Samborondon, Ecuador, during the early hours of the morning.

The arrested individuals were allegedly leaders of a gang connected to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), which is known for trafficking cocaine from Colombia. The group is reported to have distributed the drugs to various countries, particularly in the north and Europe. The operation also targeted the alleged financier of the organization, who was apprehended in another residential development in Samborondon.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa praised the success of the operation, stating that it demonstrated the country's commitment to combating transnational criminal organizations that operate across borders. The Interior Minister, John Reimberg, revealed that the investigation had been ongoing for eight months and that authorities had seized approximately seven tons of drugs and estimated the economic impact at around US$322 million.

The investigation began with U.S. cooperation, and the operation was carried out with the assistance of over 320 Ecuadorian agents and around 50 members from the U.S. Southern Command and DEA.