- UK Latin America Minister visits Ecuador to deepen security
ties and work to disrupt cocaine trade at source
- Joint action aims to protect communities in both countries
- Minister also to spotlight UK innovation and investment with
Welsh-owned Hydro Industries and climate leadership in the
Galapagos
The UK and Ecuador are working side by side to stop cocaine
flooding the streets of Europe, Minister for Latin America confirmed today as he begins
his first visit to the country.
The majority of the UK's cocaine transits through ports in
Ecuador, and Minister Elmore is in the country to see firsthand
the joint work to stop the illegal trade at source – meeting
frontline police officers, who have received training and
equipment from the UK; and observing canine training for drug
interception.
Ecuador saw its deadliest year on record in 2025 due to organised
crime, and the UK and Ecuador's joint work aims to tackle the
damaging drug trade to help keep both countries' streets
safe.
As a “platform country” for cocaine produced elsewhere in Latin
America, up to 80% of the drugs arriving in Europe come via
Ecuador. This threatens both countries' security, with Ecuadorian
communities affected by associated gang violence.
Ecuador is one of the UK's closest partners in Latin America, and
the visit underscores the shared commitment of both nations to
protect communities by stopping drugs at source. Joint action is
essential to dismantle criminal networks and prevent illicit
flows, and drugs seizures are already increasing thanks in part
to the joint work the UK and Ecuador are undertaking.
Latin America Minister said:
“Every year, hundreds of thousands of kilos of cocaine are
smuggled from South America into Europe. In the UK alone, more
than 28 tonnes of cocaine were seized by the police and Border
Force in 2023/24.
“It's a vast criminal industry, but amazingly, the majority of
cocaine that ends up on the streets of Europe comes through
Ecuadorean ports.
“That criminal industry does huge damage to communities in
the UK, but it's also causing devastation here in Ecuador, with
10,000 gang-related deaths recorded last year. That's why it's in
the interests of both the UK and Ecuador to tackle this trade
together, and put the criminal gangs behind it out of
business.
“There is huge potential in our relationship with Ecuador – it's
a vital partner for Britain on security and climate change, and
the trade and investment opportunities here for British
businesses are rising fast – but for Ecuador to succeed, we need
the drug gangs to fail, and that's why our cooperation on
organised crime is so important.”
During the visit, Minister Elmore will meet with senior
Ecuadorean leaders, including Foreign Minister Gabriela
Sommerfeld and other authorities to deepen cooperation on
security and crime prevention, as well as visiting the specialist
Police Canine Unit in Quito, where UK support is helping Ecuador
intercept narcotics and disrupt trafficking networks.
Beyond security, the visit will also celebrate UK–Ecuador
collaboration across sustainable growth and climate resilience.
Minister Elmore will visit Welsh company Hydro Industries' new
water treatment plant in Quito – whose business is expected to
reach £100m in the next few years– an example of UK innovation
and investment in Ecuador's future.
The Minister will also engage with environmental initiatives in
the Galapagos Islands, including the Global Plastics Action
Partnership (GPAP).
The visit comes amidst US action in nearby Venezuela, where the
UK supports a safe and peaceful transition to a legitimate
government. Ecuador is one of the UK's closest partners in Latin
America, and this visit underscores its ongoing commitment to our
allies, and to peace and democracy in the region.
