PANAMA’S Maritime Authority (AMP) says  it will cooperate with Ecuador in investigating the seizure of 5.5 tons of cocaine by Ecuadorian authorities on a Panamanian flagged ship destined for Europe.

Seven Panamanians were among 20 people arrested.

[caption id="attachment_71264" align="alignleft" width="300"] Bulk carrier Kraken 1[/caption]

The AMP "will cooperate with the Ecuadorian judicial authorities in the investigations they carry out related to the seizure of illegal substances carried out on the vessel KRAKEN I in Ecuadorian waters on Thursday, May 11," said the Panamanian agency in a statement sent to Efe.

The cargo ship, was boarded  by agents of Ecuadorian narcotics, when it was three miles from the port of La Libertad, on Ecuador's coast.

"The AMP reiterates that it strongly condemns any criminal activity that threatens human life, such as piracy, trafficking in persons or illicit substances. That is why it believes in strengthening and a coordinated and comprehensive approach between governments," the statement said.

The Ecuadorian authorities reported that they found the 5.5 tons of cocaine on the Panamanian flag's "big draft" boat and that they arrested 20 people, including a Spaniard  identified as David GM, the leader of an international  drug trafficking organization and 7 Panamanians.

The narco-trafficking organization, led by the Spaniard and a Colombian, operates in  various countries of America and Europe, transporting "large quantities of drugs from Ecuador and the countries of the region to the United States and Europe, using  bulk carriers or vessels of large  draft under an international flag " said the statement.

"In this case a Panamanian  flagged ship named KRAKEN I, was  using s a façade the transport of ballast to Panama and later to Spain, specifically to the cartels of Galicia," according to information from the Ministry of the Interior of Ecuador.

In addition to the Spaniard  19 people have been detained including    seven Panamanians. The rest were from  Colombia 5, nationality; Cubans2; and one from  Peru, 1 Venezuela, 1. Hondura 1, and 1 Arab, according to official Ecuadorian reports.