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

This discovery came shortly after Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa announced a 'new phase' in his government's war against drug cartels. Sandwiched between Colombia and Peru—the world's largest producers of cocaine—Ecuador has become a key transit country for illicit drugs moving 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. In addition to the 35-meter-long sub, security forces seized six speedboats, seven outboard motors, and dozens of barrels of fuel.

The defense ministry stated that troops came under fire during the operation from 'armed individuals.' There was no mention of any arrests being made or of any drugs seized in its statement. 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. However, there was no immediate mention of US forces' participation in the operation that seized the narco-sub in the swamp. The US has, however, 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, resulting in the deaths of over 150 people.

Source: www.bbc.com