Ecuador Seizes “Illegal Substances” On Tuna Purse Seiner

The Ecuadorian Navy seized 71 packages of “illegal substances” on the Ecuadorian-flagged tuna purse seiner ‘MonteCristi’ last week, which later appeared to be drugs. The police did not confirm the type of narcotics. The vessel was located 174 nautical miles (322 km) off San Cristóbal Island in the Galapagos when the items were confiscated. The crew members were taken in for questioning. An X post from the Ecuadorian Navy (Armada del Ecuador) read: “The Security Block, made up of FFA Ecuador and Policía Ecuador, in surveillance and control operations in the Ecuadorian exclusive insular economic zone, carried out the interdiction and inspection of the tuna boat named MonteCristi.” According to the IATTC, the 50-meter-long ‘MonteCristi’ is owned by Industria Ecuatoriana Productora de Alimentos C.A. and registered to the port of Manta.

Over the years, Ecuadorian officials have confiscated millions of dollars worth of drugs from canned tuna shipments headed to different parts of the world, mainly the EU and the US. Ecuador’s tuna sector has been pointing out how this is affecting their businesses. In March, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced an alliance with the founder of an infamous private military company to combat organized crime and IUU fishing plaguing the nation’s shrimp and tuna sectors.