️ The Ecuadorian Ministry of Defense stated in an announcement that the country's military has discovered and seized a 35-meter-long semi-submersible vessel (a 'narco-submarine') in a nature reserve near the border with Colombia. The vessel was carrying 22,700 liters (6,000 gallons) of fuel and was ready for "a long drug-smuggling voyage."

️ This discovery came shortly after Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced a "new phase" in his government's war on drug cartels. Sandwiched between Colombia and Peru—the world's largest producers of cocaine—Ecuador has become a key transit country for illicit drugs from South America to the US, Europe, and as far as Australia.

️ Troops found the submarine in a mangrove swamp within the Cayapas–Mataje nature reserve. They also located a nearby camp, which they said was being used by criminals as a logistics hub to prepare vessels for drug smuggling. Security forces additionally seized six speedboats, seven outboard motors, and dozens of barrels of fuel.

️ The defense ministry reported that during the operation, troops came under fire from "armed individuals." However, the statement made no mention of any arrests or drugs being seized. Noboa has been working closely with the Trump administration to curb the flow of drugs from his country into the US.

️ Earlier this week, he discussed security cooperation with the commander of US Southern Command, Gen. Francis Donovan, in the Ecuadorian capital, Quito. But there was no immediate mention of US forces participating in the operation to seize the narco-sub in the swamp. The US regime, however, has carried out dozens of strikes on boats suspected of carrying drugs in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean since it started "Operation Southern Spear" in September, with over 150 people killed in those strikes.

Source: www.bbc.com