Ecuador seized nearly 3 tons of drugs linked to the Albanian mafia in a major operation in Guayaquil, arresting five suspects.

Authorities in Ecuador have made a significant seizure of nearly three tons of drugs linked to the Albanian mafia during a raid in Guayaquil. The action was described as a "major blow" against organized crime. The drugs were hidden in crates of bananas and five people were arrested. Ecuador, a major global cocaine corridor, has seen an alarming increase in drug-related violence, with the homicide rate rising significantly in recent years.