A shipment destined for Havana that contained 17,600 doses of cocaine hydrochloride was intercepted by the National Police of Ecuador during a control operation carried out on November 16 at the Mariscal Sucre International Airport in Quito.
The drug, hidden inside containers labeled as "powdered chocolate", weighed a total of 1 kilo 760 grams and had an estimated value of over 52,000 dollars at its destination.
What appeared at first glance to be a commercial shipment of food products turned out to be a load of drugs ready to be dispatched to the Cuban capital.
The alert was triggered during a routine inspection in the cargo area of the airport, when the detection dogs "Vera" and "Nita," belonging to the Regional Canine Training Center (CRAC), stopped in front of several packages, according to a statement from the Ecuadorian police.
The animals' behavior indicated that there was something unusual inside the packages.
The agents of the National Port and Airport Investigation Unit (UIPA), in coordination with the National Anti-Drug Investigation Directorate, proceeded to open the suspicious boxes.
Inside, they found five cylindrical plastic jars, all labeled as “cocoa powder”. However, upon opening them, the contents revealed their true nature.
Inside the containers, there were 17 latex wraps filled with a powdery whitish substance.
After applying the chemical reagents "Tanred" and "Scott," it was confirmed that it was cocaine hydrochloride.
Simultaneous operations to detect contaminated shipments
This seizure was part of a series of anti-drug operations carried out that same day at the airport terminal.
The operations—named "Choco 1," "Remesa," "Choco-listo," "Recipiente," and "Cocoa"—were developed by the National Police with the technical support of specialized units in narcotics detection at ports and airports.
According to the official statement, these operations reflect a strategy of constant surveillance over air cargo destined for international locations, especially when it involves routes where criminal activity has been identified.
The authorities stated that the discovery was made possible "thanks to a coordinated effort between the UIPA and the CRAC."
Value of the seized drugs
According to the National Police, the seized shipment is valued at approximately $4,000 in the local Ecuadorian market, but its price multiplies to reach $52,800 in Cuba, reinforcing the hypothesis that it was a planned trafficking attempt for commercial purposes.
The local outlet Metro emphasized that the bottles contained recognizable brand names of food products, used as camouflage to facilitate passage through inspections.
Although no arrests have been reported so far, the police confirmed that “they continue with investigative efforts aimed at apprehending the perpetrators of this crime.”
Investigations are now focused on identifying those responsible for the shipment, based on the sender's information and other elements collected during the inspection.
Authorities have not disclosed whether the final destination of the drug was linked to micro-trafficking networks in Cuba or if it was part of a larger operation.
However, the scale of the seizure and the estimated value of the cargo suggest an organized structure with expertise in the use of international logistical routes.
This operation is part of a series of seizures carried out in Ecuador, a country that in recent years has been used as a departure point for drug shipments directed not only to North America and Europe but also to the Caribbean.
The use of parcel shipments disguised as everyday consumer products is part of the increasingly sophisticated strategies employed by drug trafficking networks.
"The police institution reaffirms its commitment to preventing criminal organizations from using cargo services to export drugs," concluded the official statement.
Filed under:
