Ecuadorian Army soldiers captured three men in the La Paz sector of Montúfar canton in Carchi province during a search operation.[1] Soldiers stopped and inspected a taxi whose occupants behaved suspiciously and arrested them for moving a hidden marijuana load.[1] Two of the detained people were Colombian nationals and the third was Ecuadorian.[1]

The Armed Forces said military personnel detained a vehicle with three occupants, two of them Colombian, who were carrying 15 kg of illicit substances (marijuana), 2 cellphones and cash.[1] The vehicle inspection found 92 US dollars, 100,180 Colombian pesos, three cellphones with chargers, two watches and two black bags holding about 15 kg of a substance that tested positive for marijuana.[1] The seized items were placed at the disposal of the competent authorities for the corresponding legal process.[1] The Carchi Governorate said the evidence and the apprehended people were brought before the corresponding authorities for the respective procedures.[1]

Colombian and Ecuadorian authorities were reported to be on alert over clandestine criminal movements at the two countries’ border crossings, with security reinforced at the boundaries.[1]