Colombian authorities seized over 3.1 tons of cocaine hydrochloride during a major anti-narcotics operation in the Caribbean Sea. The Colombian Navy intercepted a speedboat carrying five suspects and confiscated cocaine worth more than $120 million, believed to be destined for Central America. Officials say the operation deals a major blow to transnational drug trafficking networks operating across the region.

Colombia seizes 3.1 tons of cocaine worth $120 million | major Caribbean drug bust

Colombia seizes 3.1 tons of cocaine worth $120 million | Major Caribbean drug bust

The high quantities of drug seizures in Ecuador have led to a new and unique construction material, cocaine. This comes after the amount of drugs seized in 2021 doubled in the country when compared to the previous year to more than 210 tonnes, mostly cocaine, said Ecuador’s police. The country is also said to be a transit point for gangs to ship cocaine to the United States and Europe. However, since incumbent President Guillermo Lasso came to power two years ago, Ecuador has ramped up its efforts to stop the flow of illicit drugs in and out of the country.&nbsp;

How does it work?

The country uses a so-called encapsulation method with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) “out of desperation to make good on destroying the drugs”, the undersecretary for Drug Control at Ecuador’s Interior Ministry, told Reuters. The process includes pulverising seized bricks of cocaine in machines with some other materials at a waste disposal plant and then mixing the fine powder obtained with cement, sand and water to create concrete.&nbsp;

The waste treatment plant which is located at an undisclosed location outside the Ecuadorian capital city of Quito reportedly receives hundreds of blocks of cocaine hydrochloride and coca paste which is the precursor to cocaine, from across the country every week. Subsequently, as per technicians, it is broken down and mixed with glass, expired medicines and even oil waste, reported Reuters.&nbsp;

After this, the powder is mixed with other materials to produce a cement slurry to use in construction. According to the UN drug agency, as this slurry sets it combines with the rest of the materials mixed and forms a stable, hard and impenetrable matrix which prevents cocaine from seeping into the ground or being recovered.&nbsp;

“This procedure is cheaper, takes less time and doesn't affect the environment,”&nbsp;said Ecuador’s Director of Anti-Drug Investigation, Pablo Ramirez, while noting that&nbsp; the encapsulation of a tonne of cocaine takes less than three hours as opposed to incinerating the same amount of the illicit drug which can take at least 12 hours.&nbsp;

However, this cocaine-laced concrete has not been used for construction projects just yet. So far, the Ecuadorian authorities have been using this process to fill 15-metre-deep holes in the undisclosed location of the plant with layers of concrete which would later form a warehouse floor and they have no plans of using the encapsulated cocaine for other projects as of now.&nbsp; 
 
Ecuador’s drug problem&nbsp;

As mentioned earlier, since the country acts as a transit point for drugs sent to the US and Europe, authorities have seized record amounts of the illicit substance over the years. In 2022, while the number of seizures dropped slightly, the quantity of drugs found remained high which led to 27 police warehouses, where the illicit substances are stored before being destroyed, exceeding their maximum capacity.

Mera also told Reuters that the record amounts of drugs also surpassed the number of ovens used to incinerate the drugs which led to Ecuador using some of its excess cocaine to turn into construction material. Notably, the process of encapsulation has helped authorities to free some space at the police drug collection centres.

According to plant technicians, so far, nearly 350 tonnes of cocaine and its precursor coca paste seized between last year and the year before has been turned into construction material. While some 83 tonnes of cocaine is still waiting to be encapsulated, said Ramirez.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

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The high quantities of drug seizures in Ecuador have led to a new and unique construction material, cocaine. This comes after the amount of drugs seized in 2021 doubled in the country when compared to the previous year to more than 210 tonnes, mostly cocaine, said Ecuador’s police.

The high quantities of drug seizures in Ecuador have led to a new and unique construction material, cocaine. This comes after the amount of drugs seized in 2021 doubled in the country when compared to the previous year to more than 210 tonnes, mostly cocaine, said Ecuador’s police. The country is also said to be a transit point for gangs to ship cocaine to the United States and Europe. However, since incumbent President Guillermo Lasso came to power two years ago, Ecuador has ramped up its efforts to stop the flow of illicit drugs in and out of the country. How does it work? The country uses a so-called encapsulation method with the support of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) “out of desperation to make good on destroying the drugs”, the undersecretary for Drug Control at Ecuador’s Interior Ministry, told Reuters. The process includes pulverising seized bricks of cocaine in machines with some other materials at a waste disposal plant and then mixing the fine powder obtained with cement, sand and water to create concrete. The waste treatment plant which is located at an undisclosed location outside the Ecuadorian capital city of Quito reportedly receives hundreds of blocks of cocaine hydrochloride and coca paste which is the precursor to cocaine, from across the country every week. Subsequently, as per technicians, it is broken down and mixed with glass, expired medicines and even oil waste, reported Reuters. After this, the powder is mixed with other materials to produce a cement slurry to use in construction. According to the UN drug agency, as this slurry sets it combines with the rest of the materials mixed and forms a stable, hard and impenetrable matrix which prevents cocaine from seeping into the ground or being recovered. “This procedure is cheaper, takes less time and doesn't affect the environment,” said Ecuador’s Director of Anti-Drug Investigation, Pablo Ramirez, while noting that the encapsulation of a tonne of cocaine takes less than three hours as opposed to incinerating the same amount of the illicit drug which can take at least 12 hours. However, this cocaine-laced concrete has not been used for construction projects just yet. So far, the Ecuadorian authorities have been using this process to fill 15-metre-deep holes in the undisclosed location of the plant with layers of concrete which would later form a warehouse floor and they have no plans of using the encapsulated cocaine for other projects as of now. Ecuador’s drug problem As mentioned earlier, since the country acts as a transit point for drugs sent to the US and Europe, authorities have seized record amounts of the illicit substance over the years. In 2022, while the number of seizures dropped slightly, the quantity of drugs found remained high which led to 27 police warehouses, where the illicit substances are stored before being destroyed, exceeding their maximum capacity. Mera also told Reuters that the record amounts of drugs also surpassed the number of ovens used to incinerate the drugs which led to Ecuador using some of its excess cocaine to turn into construction material. Notably, the process of encapsulation has helped authorities to free some space at the police drug collection centres. According to plant technicians, so far, nearly 350 tonnes of cocaine and its precursor coca paste seized between last year and the year before has been turned into construction material. While some 83 tonnes of cocaine is still waiting to be encapsulated, said Ramirez. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Cocaine to concrete: Ecuador finds an innovative way to utilise surplus of seized illicit drug

Peru, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of cocaine, has been negotiating a deal with the United States for “non-lethal” assistance in intercepting planes carrying illicit drugs. Peru’s anti-drug chief on Wednesday (July 14) said the country wants to reach an agreement with the US as soon as possible to assist it to combat the use of planes to smuggle cocaine at a time when coca planting has been expanding.&nbsp;The US discontinued its support to Peru when the Peruvian Air Force shot down a jet after mistaking it for one belonging to drug traffickers, killing two American citizens, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

Ricardo Soberon, head of the national anti-drug organization DEVIDA in a conference stated that the efforts to destroy coca farms, the plants used to make cocaine, have been hampered by rising global demand for the drug. Soberon further said that “the concept of shared responsibility’ needs to be reviewed.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peru-in-a-major-drug-haul-police-seize-1-tonne-of-cocaine-490951">Peru: In a major drug haul, police seize 1 tonne of cocaine</a>

Soberon said, production in Peru has primarily increased in the Ucayali area, which shares a border with Brazil. The cocoa plantation has nearly quadrupled in size in just the matter of two years, adding 10,229 hectares (25,276 acres) in 2021. However, the official number has not yet been declared, the chief continued by saying that the national growth of coca leaf crops is anticipated to have increased in the year 2021. The country anticipates coca leaf crops would cover 61,700 hectares in the year 2020.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cocaine-worth-86-million-gets-delivered-to-supermarkets-in-banana-shipment-488630">Cocaine worth $86 million gets delivered to supermarkets in banana shipment</a>

The anti-drug chief plans to visit Washington in late August or during the beginning of September to meet with the US State Department to discuss the situation.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Peru, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of cocaine, has been negotiating a deal with the United States for “non-lethal” assistance in intercepting planes carrying illicit drugs.

Peru, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of cocaine, has been negotiating a deal with the United States for “non-lethal” assistance in intercepting planes carrying illicit drugs. Peru’s anti-drug chief on Wednesday (July 14) said the country wants to reach an agreement with the US as soon as possible to assist it to combat the use of planes to smuggle cocaine at a time when coca planting has been expanding. The US discontinued its support to Peru when the Peruvian Air Force shot down a jet after mistaking it for one belonging to drug traffickers, killing two American citizens, Reuters reported. Ricardo Soberon, head of the national anti-drug organization DEVIDA in a conference stated that the efforts to destroy coca farms, the plants used to make cocaine, have been hampered by rising global demand for the drug. Soberon further said that “the concept of shared responsibility’ needs to be reviewed. Also read | Peru: In a major drug haul, police seize 1 tonne of cocaine Soberon said, production in Peru has primarily increased in the Ucayali area, which shares a border with Brazil. The cocoa plantation has nearly quadrupled in size in just the matter of two years, adding 10,229 hectares (25,276 acres) in 2021. However, the official number has not yet been declared, the chief continued by saying that the national growth of coca leaf crops is anticipated to have increased in the year 2021. The country anticipates coca leaf crops would cover 61,700 hectares in the year 2020. Also read | Cocaine worth $86 million gets delivered to supermarkets in banana shipment The anti-drug chief plans to visit Washington in late August or during the beginning of September to meet with the US State Department to discuss the situation. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Peru wants US ‘non-lethal’ assistance to stop cocaine trafficking planes

After a plane crashed right after takeoff in&nbsp;Papua New Guinea, five people have been charged with conspiring of import of cocaine across borders.

The five suspects are alleged members of Melbourne-based organised crime ring.

They have been charged for conspiration to import nearly&nbsp;500 kilogrammes of cocaine worth some Aus$80 million (USD$57 million) and other related crimes, the police said in a statement.

The cocaine was discovered on late Friday night and the Australian Federal Police&nbsp;claims it was "the equivalent of about 500,000 street deals".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/war-of-words-between-chinese-and-australian-envoy-317524">Also watch:&nbsp;War of words between China and Australian envoy</a>

Australian Federal Police allege that "greed played a significant part in the syndicate's activities and cannot rule out that the weight of the cocaine had an impact on the plane's ability to take off."

The&nbsp;crash happened on July 26 after the aircraft attempted to take-off from a remote airstrip in Papa Lea Lea, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) north of Papua New Guinea's capital of Port Moresby, en route to Australia.

The five accused were&nbsp;arrested in Queensland and Victoria after the Cessna model light aircraft departed Mareeba Airport in Australia on July 26 for its mission to Papua New Guinea.

If convicted, the five suspects could face a sentence of life-time prison.

(With inputs from AFP)

After a plane crashed right after takeoff in Papua New Guinea, five people have been charged with conspiring of import of cocaine across borders. The five suspects are alleged members of Melbourne-based organised crime ring.

After a plane crashed right after takeoff in Papua New Guinea, five people have been charged with conspiring of import of cocaine across borders. The five suspects are alleged members of Melbourne-based organised crime ring. They have been charged for conspiration to import nearly 500 kilogrammes of cocaine worth some Aus$80 million (USD$57 million) and other related crimes, the police said in a statement. The cocaine was discovered on late Friday night and the Australian Federal Police claims it was "the equivalent of about 500,000 street deals". Also watch: War of words between China and Australian envoy Australian Federal Police allege that "greed played a significant part in the syndicate's activities and cannot rule out that the weight of the cocaine had an impact on the plane's ability to take off." The crash happened on July 26 after the aircraft attempted to take-off from a remote airstrip in Papa Lea Lea, about 30 kilometres (19 miles) north of Papua New Guinea's capital of Port Moresby, en route to Australia. The five accused were arrested in Queensland and Victoria after the Cessna model light aircraft departed Mareeba Airport in Australia on July 26 for its mission to Papua New Guinea. If convicted, the five suspects could face a sentence of life-time prison. (With inputs from AFP)

Australia: Five arrested for cocaine smuggling after carrier plane crashes

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