Ecuador captures semisub carrying tonne of cocaine: officials
Most of the drugs, which included heroin, were destined for international markets
QUITO (AFP) - The Ecuadorian authorities captured a semisubmersible vessel carrying a ton of cocaine near the Galapagos Islands, officials said on Sunday.
The navy carried out the operation together with police forces from Ecuador and Colombia, Ecuador s deputy security minister Diego Fuentes tweeted.
The vessel was intercepted off Genovesa Island, in northern Galapagos, around 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) from the Ecuadorian coast.
A coast guard vessel intercepted the semisub north of the archipelago, the Ecuadorian navy said on Twitter. Three people were arrested.
Earlier this month, Ecuador announced it had seized some 26 tonnes of drugs, mainly cocaine, since January.
Most of the drugs, which included heroin, were destined for international markets.
The authorities seized a record of more than 79 tonnes of drugs in 2015, again mostly cocaine.
Although Ecuador is considered free of illicit drug crops, traffickers often use the country for transporting drugs and supplies for production.
The authorities seized 61.4 tonnes of drugs in 2014 and 57.4 in 2013, officials said.
