The crew of the coast guard patrol boat Santa Cruz Island, which sank immediately after intercepting a smuggling vessel, was rescued by a passing ship, The Maritime Executive reports on May 28.
The Ecuadorian coast guard vessel Isla Santa Cruz intercepted a semi-submersible smuggling boat off the coast of Salinas, near the Galapagos Islands. There were three crew members aboard the secret ship, including two Colombian citizens and one Ecuadorian. According to local media, the ship was loaded with approximately two tons of drugs and was headed to a transshipment point in Central America.
While the detainees and the ship were being taken ashore for processing, the Isla Santa Cruz sank and the crew and crew abandoned ship. The SAR coordination centers of Ecuador, Peru and the United States Coast Guard began a joint operation to search for survivors. Two Ecuadorian Navy ships, a Colombian military plane and two civilian vessels joined the effort.
The fishing boat Amaslis found 15 survivors. All were safely rescued by the Ecuadorian Navy Coast Guard vessel Isabela Island. Bales of drugs were also taken ashore as evidence.
Three suspects have been handed over to authorities and authorities are investigating the cause of the unusual incident.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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