The police in Ecuador report that they have seized 149 tons of drugs so far this year, with the majority intended for transportation to the USA and Europe.
The seizures are estimated to be worth over 280 million dollars, equivalent to nearly three billion kronor.
Ecuador has in recent years gained a significant role in the international drug trade as a transit country, primarily for cocaine. The drug cartels have exploited the country's strategic location between neighboring countries Peru and Colombia, where the majority of the world's cocaine is produced.
The development has led to the previously relatively safe country experiencing major problems with cartel violence and crime.
