QUITO, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian police dismantled the local arm of a transnational drug-trafficking organization with links to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, authorities said Wednesday.
As part of a coordinated multinational anti-crime operation, police on Tuesday arrested eight suspects in several Ecuadorian cities, including the capital Quito, the Prosecutor General's Office said.
In 14 raids, police seized 106 kg of marijuana and 3,400 liters of sulphuric acid, which is used to make cocaine.
The group operated in other countries across the region, with raids carried out simultaneously in Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia and Ecuador as part of the operation dubbed "Neptune's Harpoon," the Office said.
So far 61 raids were carried out with 38 suspects arrested.
Preliminary investigations found that "the organization ran a specialized structure in each country that began with production in Colombia and Ecuador" and included "distribution in Guatemala and Mexico, where they maintained alliances with the Sinaloa Cartel," the Office said.
