Authorities from Ecuador have discovered an illegal cocaine manufacturing laboratory with a production capacity of two tonnes per month in the middle of the jungle.

The secret facility was reportedly located near the village of La Barquilla, in the Sucumbios province, about 15 kilometres (9.3 miles) away from the border with Colombia.

In a mission codenamed Operation Pulley, crews form the Armed Forces and the National Police of Ecuador collaborated together and immediately arrested a person they detected in the lab upon arrival.

Interior Minister Juan Zapata, aged 58, claimed that “several items for the purpose of processing cocaine were seized” by the officers.

Reports revealed that at first they snatched about 15,000 litres of acetone, 2,500 litres of chemical precursor and 416 litres of diesel.

Additionally they took a hold on one carbine, four 16mm cartridges, nine microwaves, 15 bags of calcium chloride, five cans with acid, four scales, one blender, one vacuum packer, one electric generator, one kitchenette, 11 tents, 11 mattresses, two gas cylinders and two pulleys.

The illegal lab reportedly had an accommodation capacity of between 25 and 30 people.

It was reportedly destroyed by Ecuadorian soldiers after detectives completed their investigations inside.

The Ecuadorian Army posted a video showing the illegal lab prior to the destruction on their Twitter page on Sunday, 19th February 2023.

They said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: “Sucumbios, The Bimot 39 Mayor Galo Molina carrying out operations in the #NorthBorder sector #LaBarquilla located 01 cocaine processing laboratory, where a person was apprehended and supplies used for this illegal activity were found.”

They reportedly handed the evidence over to the competent authorities.

The investigation continues.