International

Ecuador police intercept major drug shipment destined for Europe

More than three tons of drugs valued at $150 million, destined for Europe, were seized early Saturday at a port in Ecuador, the police reported.

The discovery was made during an operation at the port of Guayaquil, located 265 kilometers southwest of the capital, Quito. With the help of trained dogs, the cargo was detected hidden in a container of export products that was supposed to arrive in Belgium.

This is not the largest drug shipment seized this year. Nestled between Colombia and Peru—two of the world’s largest drug producers—Ecuador has become a logistical hub for transnational drug trafficking organizations, where large shipments are stored, warehoused, and transported from its Pacific ports.

The seized drugs amounted to 37.5 million doses of cocaine hydrochloride, with a value of $150 million on the European market, according to the police report.

The illicit substance was contained in 3,864 rectangular blocks hidden among boxes of an unspecified export product, the police stated.

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Between January 1 and December 1, Ecuador has seized 273.6 tons of drugs, compared to 206 tons seized during the same period last year, marking a 32% increase, according to official figures.

One of the most significant drug seizures in Ecuador occurred in January when 22 tons of cocaine were discovered on a banana plantation in the Los Ríos province, which were intended to be transported by small planes to Europe, Asia, the United States, and Central America, the Army reported.

International

Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids

Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.

The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.

In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.

He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”

The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.

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The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.

International

Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win

Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Venezuelan diplomatic mission provided no explanation for its decision on Monday.

“It is regrettable,” a ministry spokesperson said. “Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue with Venezuela open and will continue to work in that direction.” The ministry also emphasized that the Nobel Committee operates entirely independently from the Norwegian government.

In its announcement, the Nobel Committee stated that Machado met the criteria established by Alfred Nobel, “embodying the hope for a different future, where the fundamental rights of Venezuelans are heard.”

International

Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains

Thousands of military personnel and civilians in Mexico worked tirelessly on Tuesday to clear roads blocked by the torrential rains of recent days, which have left more than 300 communities cut off across central and eastern regions of the country. Authorities also launched mass fumigation efforts in several affected areas to prevent the spread of dengue fever.

The official death toll remains at 64, though dozens of people are still missing. President Claudia Sheinbaumacknowledged that the government does not yet know the full situation in many of the isolated villages, which range in population from 500 to 1,000 inhabitants.

“The reopening of roads is one of the greatest urgencies,” Sheinbaum said. “It’s essential to guarantee air bridges, food supplies, clean water, and a proper census of the isolated communities so we can determine the condition of every person living there.”

Private construction companies are also assisting the effort with heavy machinery and technical support to help reopen highways and reconnect rural areas.