Europol Operation Nets 20 Suspects

Twenty suspects were arrested and 23 properties searched in Ecuador during an international operation targeting a criminal network accused of trafficking cocaine from Latin America to Europe, Europol said. The action, conducted on Oct. 8, 2026, involved Ecuadorian authorities and Spain’s Guardia Civil and National Police.

Codenamed Operation CANTABRIA, the investigation focused on shipments concealed in commercial freight, particularly tropical fruit containers. Authorities said the network used Ecuador as a major departure point and maintained links to Peru, logistics hubs and ports in Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands, as well as the United Arab Emirates.

Europol said the operation followed years of cooperation and intelligence-sharing between European and Ecuadorian agencies. Two Ecuadorian officers worked from Europol’s headquarters in The Hague to support data analysis and coordination during the investigation.

Across 13 operations conducted between 2022 and 2026, authorities seized more than 43 tonnes of cocaine, including over 35 tonnes in 2023 and 2024. The operation was supported by EL PACCTO 2.0, an EU program aimed at strengthening cooperation against organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean.