Recently, the Ecuadorian Navy successfully intercepted a container ship named "Guayaquil Express" in the waters near the city of Manta, seizing about 1,745 pieces of suspected illegal drugs, weighing nearly one ton. The operation was conducted jointly by the Coast Guard Command and Marine Corps units after receiving intelligence about possible smuggling activities by the vessel.

The Ecuadorian Armed Forces said the inspection was successfully completed with the ship continuing to sail. The authorities seized about one ton of the illicit substance suspected of cocaine and transported it to the port of Manta for legal proceedings and analysis.

Ecuador has become an important transshipment point for cocaine produced in Colombia and Peru.

The Guayaquil Express, operated by Hapag-Lloyd, continued its journey towards the Panama Canal after the incident.

"This operation demonstrates the Ecuadorian Navy's strong commitment to combating drug trafficking and maintaining Marine protection and the safety of the waters," the authorities said.