Operations by the drug enforcement agencies of Colombia and Ecuador led to the seizure over the weekend of two improvised submarines loaded with cocaine, the authorities of the two Latin American countries announced.

Yesterday Sunday, the Colombian navy announced, with a press release that it published, the seizure of the “first semi-submersible of the year”.

The fifteen-meter vessel was intercepted in the Pacific Ocean near the port of Buenaventura (west); it was carrying 795 kilograms of cocaine. Three passengers were arrested.

Last Saturday Ecuador’s armed forces announced the seizure of another improvised submarine, also sailing in the Pacific and carrying almost three tons of cocaine.

The gray colored boat was also about fifteen meters long. It was located about sixty kilometers off the coast of Esmeralda (northwest). The three passengers, Colombians, were taken into custody.

According to a military statement, the operation to intercept the vessel was carried out in coordination with the Colombian police and navy.

A United Nations report released last year said 2022 was a record year for cocaine production in Colombia. The crops of coca leaves, the raw material for the production of the drug, increased by 13% reaching 2,300,000 hectares, according to the same source.

Although no cocaine is produced on its territory, Ecuador has in recent years become a major transit hub for the trafficking of this substance to the US and European markets and is affected more than ever by gang crimes committed in it: it has been declared a state of “war ” by president Daniel Noboa this month.