Ecuadorian police seized more than half a ton of cocaine hidden among boxes of canned tuna in an export container bound for France at the Naportec port terminal in Guayaquil. Authorities discovered 784 blocks of cocaine during routine inspections of export cargo early Monday. The drugs had been concealed in sacks between boxes of tuna in an attempt to evade customs controls. The seizure is part of a series of anti-narcotics operations targeting drug shipments concealed in export cargo along Ecuador’s coast. In recent weeks, authorities have seized significant quantities of drugs at ports in the provinces of Guayas and El Oro, according to Ecuadorian news sites.

John Reimberg, Ecuador’s Interior Minister, said in a post on X that the operation was carried out by the National Police at Naportec. He added that the investigation is ongoing. Ecuador’s tuna industry has faced recurring cocaine-smuggling incidents involving export containers, with criminal networks using legitimate shipments to transport drugs overseas.

The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) recently concluded its annual regional fisheries surveillance, ‘Operation Kurukuru,’ held in the tuna-rich WCPO to crack down on IUU fishing. The two-week operation, held from October 5 to 16, recorded over 27,000 satellite detections, which refers to identifying of potential vessels or other maritime targets picked up by satellite-based surveillance systems, 149 vessel sightings, and 82 at-sea and dockside boardings and inspections. Officials identified 13 vessels of interest, leading to one apprehension. It was not disclosed whether any of the vessels were tuna boats.

Maritime surveillance and intelligence technologies, such as Hawkeye 360, Starboard, BlackSky, Skylight and Copernicus, were used for the Operation that brought together fisheries, maritime, law enforcement and defence personnel from FFA’s 17 Members. Australia, France, New Zealand and the US provided operational support, according to an FFA statement. Noan David Pakop, FFA Director-General, said the operation demonstrated the importance of Pacific countries working collectively to protect the fisheries resources that support livelihoods, food security and national economies.

Tuna was among four seafood products involved in an alleged EUR 87 million money-laundering and tax-fraud scheme involving a criminal organization uncovered by Italian authorities.

Italy’s Financial Police Unit, part of the Guardia di Finanza, began searches and seizures last week after an investigation uncovered a criminal organization selling tuna, salmon, sea bass and other seafood, mainly to operators in Sweden, Greece and Spain, without paying value-added tax. The companies also obtained loans that were never repaid. The firms sold seafood at lower prices than competitors, undermining fair competition, while proceeds were reinvested in real estate and other commercial activities, reported SeafoodSource. According to investigators, 14 individuals and corporations were involved in the scam.