Ecuadorian government seizes and destroys over 20 tonnes of cocaine

Ecuadorian authorities have started the process of destroying some 22 tonnes of cocaine seized in recent days.

Transcript

00:00 [SPEAKING SPANISH]

00:04 The Ecuadorian government has destroyed 22 tons of cocaine

00:08 in the country's largest drug seizure ever.

00:10 Authorities used a technique known as encapsulation

00:13 to destroy the drug, pulverizing the seized blocks with waste

00:16 before mixing the resulting fine powder

00:18 with cement, sand, and glass.

00:20 The government says Ecuador has become

00:22 a center for exporting drugs, especially cocaine,

00:25 to the US and Europe.

00:26 Ecuador has experienced a surge in violent activity

00:29 over the past few weeks linked to criminal gang activity.

00:33 (whooshing)