Narcos used a farm in Vinces to hide weapons and about 22 tons of drugs

The hacienda was hidden in the middle of a banana plantation . The extensive vegetation became an ideal camouflage to set up a true operations center for a powerful narco-criminal organization.  

The Police and the Prosecutor’s Office are tracking those responsible for hiding weapons and drugs on a farm in Vinces.

In the last few hours, the military and police reported the seizure of nearly 22 tons of drugs on a farm near Vinces, in Los Ríos.

The military has detailed that 17 weapons, 5,396 ammunition of different calibers, 14 rifle feeders, six pistol feeders, communication equipment, among others, were hidden in that place.

In fact, a cove -style cellar was found underground. There, 733 jute bags with brick-like packages of drugs were found.

Police reports indicate that it is a large shipment of cocaine. It is the largest drug seizure that has been made in Ecuador in recent years. 

Previously, 10 tons of drugs were seized in Guayaquil. That operation occurred in 2022. On that occasion, the police found the drugs and a large arsenal of weapons and ammunition. 

And in this new seizure, the results were no different. The military reported that at least 12 high-caliber rifles and jute bags with dozens of bullets and ammunition for the weapons  were found .

The Police are investigating the movements of the drug gang that was behind these events. The Prosecutor’s Office also opened an investigation.

It is presumed that this narcotic could have been transported to the markets of Asia, Europe, North America and Central America, using low-performance light aircraft.

”This operation represents a strong weakening of the operational, logistical and financial capacity of drug trafficking worldwide, generating a loss of USD 50,000 per kilo and approximately more than USD 1,000 million in the international market,” said the Land Force. 

To execute this operation, military intelligence executed observation and surveillance strategies for more than six months. 

Criminal process

In this case, the Prosecutor’s Office prosecuted a  person for alleged drug and weapons trafficking, this January 22, 2024. 

In addition, a Vinces judge issued preventive detention for the suspect. 

According to the Comprehensive Penal Code. Drug trafficking is punishable by imprisonment of up to 13 years and arms trafficking by imprisonment of up to seven years.