Operation Mondragón Dismantles Criminal Network Centered in the Port of Guayaquil

A joint investigation by the Ecuadorian National Police, the Spanish Civil Guard, and Europol dismantled an international organized crime group, which had the Port of Guayaquil as its main logistical hub. The operation, dubbed " Operation Mondragón," led to the arrest of 10 people and the seizure of 21 tons of drugs.

Details of the operation were published on the website of the Ecuadorian National Police, where it was reported that "according to investigations, the organization allegedly used legally constituted companies with regular foreign trade records to introduce drugs into containers destined for Spanish ports, including Malaga, Algeciras, and Valencia."

Regarding the start of the investigation, it was indicated that "the operation stems from the Gran Fénix 13-Tormes case, developed in Ecuador by the National Anti-Drug Investigation Unit. During these inquiries, authorities identified more than 20 Ecuadorian citizens who allegedly participated in the collection, custody, and contamination of export containers, mainly loaded with bananas."

"The illicit shipments were introduced through two mechanisms: the modification of the container structure, especially their floors, and the partial or total substitution of the legal product. The use of formally constituted companies with a reliable export history would have allowed the organization to reduce alerts during anti-narcotics controls at the ports of origin and destination," the publication stated.

In relation to the functioning of this criminal organization, it was added that "the main branch, based in Spain and composed of Spanish and Moroccan citizens, managed front companies used to import containers from South America."

Regarding its cells in Ecuador, it was stated that they operated "mainly around the Port of Guayaquil, where the contamination of cargoes destined for the European market would have been coordinated."

"A third branch, located in Dubai and composed of Albanian investors, would have provided resources to the Spanish companies to finance the operation and give a legal appearance to the periodic movement of capital and goods," it was added.

Additionally, it was reported that eight house searches were carried out, 91 vehicles were impounded, 39 bank accounts were blocked, and 1 million euros were seized.

Finally, the Ecuadorian police assured that the members of the gang who were prosecuted received sentences ranging from 7 to 10 years in prison.