Read Authentic Ratings for the Guayaquil-Express

In a daring act of maritime crime, an armed gang of 25 individuals approached the Hapag Lloyd vessel, 'Guayaquil Express', 45 nautical miles off the coast of Manta, Ecuador, on February 14. Using speedboats, the group managed to board the ship and place approximately 800 kg of cocaine onboard before the Ecuadorian Navy acted on a distress signal from the ship. The prompt response from the Coast Guard and naval teams led to the successful seizure of the illicit cargo during the night, while the vessel was en route to the Panama Canal from Posorja, with the narcotics intended for shipment to Manzanillo. Following the incident, the 'Guayaquil Express' resumed its journey, arriving in Balboa on February 18. As of now, no arrests have been reported in connection with this brazen drug trafficking event.

In a remarkable maritime operation off the coast of Manta, Ecuador, approximately 1,745 blocks of unidentified narcotic substances were discovered aboard the cargo ship 'Guayaquil Express' on February 15, 2025. The Ecuadorian Navy successfully seized two tons of cocaine after armed individuals, numbering around 25, attempted to smuggle the illicit cargo using speedboats. The vessel was en route from Posorja in Guayas Province to the port of Manzanillo when authorities were tipped off about potential drug contamination. This prompted the Coast Guard Command and the Marine Corps to work together in a strategic mission to intercept and inspect the ship on the high seas. Upon inspection, officials uncovered around 20 packages of cocaine, which bore four distinct logos, indicating the presence of multiple criminal organizations in the operation. The seized cocaine was transported to the port of Manta early on February 16, where it was handed over to the relevant authorities to initiate judicial proceedings. For detailed reports and images, check out the following sources: [BiNews](https://www.binoticias.com/internacional/ecuador-intercepta-buque-con-2-toneladas-de-cocaina-destinadas-mexico#google_vignette), [Ecuador Navy on X](https://x.com/armada_ecuador/status/1891323853579616326), and [El Intransigente](https://elintransigente.com/2025/02/ecuador-intercepto-buque-con-dos-toneladas-de-cocaina-que-iban-hacia-mexico/).

On March 19, 2019, the container ship 'Guayaquil Express', while navigating from Le Havre to Cartagena, encountered a critical issue with its main engine. Positioned at 49°47'18.0" N and 003°35'18.0" W, the crew determined that a replacement of the main engine pistons was necessary at 3:55 p.m. This malfunction rendered the vessel unable to restart the engine or maneuver as required. Fortunately, no external assistance was needed at that time. The crew estimated that the repairs would be completed by 10 p.m. Throughout the incident, the HM Coastguard maintained communication with the vessel, implementing welfare checks every two hours to ensure the safety of those on board.