Netherlands helps bust cocaine trafficking network linked to major Ecuadorian cartel
The Netherlands helped bring down an international drug trafficking network linked to the notorious Ecuadorian cartel Los Lobos, Europol announced. Authorities arrested 16 people in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Ecuador, including a leader of the cartel.
Los Lobos is one of the largest drug cartels in Ecuador. “It was responsible for the large-scale trafficking of cocaine to Europe, using fruit-exporting companies as cover for their illicit activities,” Europol said. The operation was led by Ecuador and the United States and supported by Europol, and the Dutch and Belgian authorities.
On Tuesday, the authorities in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Ecuador raided 26 properties. In addition to the arrests, they seized four handguns, two rifles, 17 vehicles, and approximately €685,000 in cash. The authorities also cited four more suspects for questioning at a later date.
The investigation was launched in January of last year. Investigators discovered that the Ecuadorian network was working with an Albanian drug trafficking network. Members of the Albanian network traveled to Ecuador to negotiate deals and secure large-scale shipments of cocaine.
The drugs were transported to Europe concealed within legitimate cargo, particularly refrigerated fruit. “The cocaine entered an extensive logistical network upon arrival in Europe, with the shipments rapidly divided, transported inland, and distributed across multiple countries,” Europol said.
During the investigation, the Ecuadorian authorities, with support from Europol, managed to identify several suspicious shipments and alerted the Dutch and Belgian authorities to the relevant containers. As a result, Dutch customs officers seized approximately 2.6 tons of cocaine in the port of Vlissingen in February 2025 and 1.1 tons in the port of Rotterdam in June. Belgian authorities seized 3.1 tons of the drug, and Ecuador confiscated 572 kilograms.
According to Europol, this operation dismantled a major drug trafficking network and disrupted a complex money laundering and corruption scheme.
