Police find 535 kg of marijuana in an SUV in Ibarra
Ecuador's National Police seized 535.03 kg of marijuana, packed in 350 rectangular parcels, from an SUV in San Miguel de Ibarra and arrested the driver, named in one report as Jorge M. The force valued the load at more than US$414,000 on the domestic market.
🇪🇨 San Miguel de Ibarra, Ibarra, Imbabura · Ecuador
Arrested
1
Cannabis
535.03 kg
Value (official estimate)
USD 414,000
Ecuador’s National Police arrested a man and seized535.03 kg of marijuana
packed in 350 rectangular parcels from an SUV in San Miguel de Ibarra, Imbabura,
on 20 October 2026.[1][2]The force reported the operation the next day; Diario
Extra said it was carried out under the “Cero Impunidad” operation and the 3D
operational strategy.[1][2]
The packages were on the rear seats and in the boot of a red Chery SUV.[1][2]Officers also seized two mobile phones, the vehicle and a motorcycle.[2]La Hora
named the suspect as Jorge M. and said police records showed earlier cases for
illegal drug possession in 2015 and robbery in 2020.[2]
The police valued the marijuana at more than US$414,000 on the national market and
said investigations continued to establish where it came from and where it was
going.[2]The suspect and the seized items were placed at the disposal of the
competent authorities.[1][2]
Photos and video
The marijuana seized in Ibarra, in a photograph credited to Ecuador's National Police. Source: La HoraThe rear seat and boot of the SUV filled with blocks wrapped in black plastic, in a photograph credited to Ecuador's National Police. Source: La Hora
Ecuador's National Police seized 26 grams of marijuana from a Quito-to-Manta parcel at Manta's bus terminal on 30 October 2026 after detector dog CUMI alerted. No one was detained; prosecutors opened an inquiry into the sender and recipient.
On the night of 9 October 2026 police in Piartal, Montúfar, chased a car and two motorcycles and arrested three Colombian men. They seized 303.007 grams of marijuana, which the police valued at about 234,830 US dollars in Ecuador.
On 30 September 2026 soldiers in Carchi chased a pickup that had skipped a checkpoint at Santa Martha de Cuba. The occupants fled and left about 1.3 tonnes of suspected marijuana, which the defence minister valued at 6.5 million dollars.
In the early hours of 7 September 2026 Ecuador's army stopped a Chevrolet pickup in Ascázubi, Cayambe, and seized 432.45 kg of marijuana in 247 blocks after the driver and a companion fled. The forces valued the load at more than 1.5 million dollars and linked the route to Colombia and the coast.
