Quito, May 13 (IANS/EFE): Ecuadorian police seized 2.2 tonnes of cocaine that was intended for shipment to the US in sacks of zeolite, a media report said.

Five suspects were arrested in the operation, including four employees and the legal representative of a company that is under investigation by Ecuadorian authorities, EFE reported on Tuesday, citing Deputy Interior Minister Diego Fuentes.

He said the planned destination for the drug was the US, although the boat on which it was to be shipped was due to make stops in Guatemala and Mexico.

The cocaine was found in a cargo of 1,600 sacks of zeolite, 82 of which had been wholly or partially filled with it.

Zeolite is a porous mineral used as an absorbent in the agricultural and petrochemical sectors.

According to Fuentes, the investigation lasted four months and it is presumed that the company involved alternated regular shipments of zeolite with others in which cocaine was added to the cargo.

"This was the biggest shipment," said the official.

So far this year, Ecuadorian police have seized 32 tonnes of drugs, 25 tonnes of which were earmarked for international distribution and 7 tonnes of which were for internal consumption.