MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Ecuador seizes arms for Colombian guerrilla

Ecuador's Chief of Police said Wednesday that weapons seized this week in one of the country's capital Quito wealthy neighbourhoods were going to be sold to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrillas.

"The preliminary investigation confirms the arms cache was destined to Block 48 of the FARC", which operates near the Ecuadorian border, Commander Jose Vinueza told the Gamavision television network.

Commander Vinueza said the police was continuing to determine the origin of the seized weapons which rocket launchers and grenades.

The police arrested five Ecuadorian citizens in connection with the arms. Regarding drug trafficking, Vinueza said that Ecuador had "become a big warehouse (for drugs) ... which, regrettably, are being supplied and sold to different countries in North America as well as in Europe".

"This is a country in which (drugs) are stockpiled and then taken from the country, whether it be by sea or air" he said, adding that the main smuggling route is by sea. Mr. Vinueza further revealed that the police had recently arrested two vessels which were attempting to smuggle 10 tons of drugs out of the country.

"This shows drugs are moving in large quantities through the country" he underlined.