Spanish police say a long-running investigation carried out with authorities in Ecuador has broken up a major cocaine smuggling network allegedly financed by investors in Dubai. The operation resulted in 44 arrests, according to officials.
Investigators also seized 21 tons of cocaine during the multiyear case, underscoring the scale of the trafficking operation. The announcement points to a cross-border network linking Europe, Latin America and financial backers based in the Gulf.
The case was led by Spain’s Civil Guard in coordination with Ecuadorian authorities. Police described the effort as a sustained investigation aimed at dismantling an organized smuggling ring rather than stopping a single shipment.
The raids mark a significant blow against international drug trafficking routes that move cocaine from South America toward European markets. Spanish authorities have presented the arrests and large drug seizure as the outcome of extensive cooperation between the two countries.
