On April 1, the Ecuadorian authorities detected an aircraft reportedly carrying drugs and making an unauthorized landing in the province of Manabí. Although the plane managed to escape, nine alleged drug traffickers were arrested and US $ 200,000, four firearms and several vehicles were seized. Despite the efforts of the authorities, the “narco-flights” remain a growing threat to Ecuador and its fight against drug trafficking.
As part of the Brazil-Paraguay bilateral agreement to combat drug trafficking, the Brazilian Federal Police assisted the Paraguayan National Anti-Drug Secretariat (SENAD) in the destruction of 1,132 tons of marijuana plants on the countries’ shared border. The estimated price of the fields approximates US$33 million.
According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) of Nigeria, 16 methamphetamine laboratories were uncovered in Nigeria between 2011 and 2018. Both the production and the growing consumption of the substance are a concern for Nigeria.
A record amount of cocaine – half tonne – was discovered in crates of bananas in six branches of a supermarket chain in the northern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in Germany. The drugs could have a street value of around €25 million.
