Colombian Navy seizes over two tonnes of cocaine in Caribbean with US support
The National Navy and US authorities intercepted two vessels carrying 2,001 kg of cocaine and arrested five people in Colombian Caribbean waters.
Combined operation thwarts cocaine shipment valued at 92 million dollars
The Colombian National Navy, in joint operation with United States authorities, seized 2,001 kilogrammes of cocaine in Caribbean Sea waters on Saturday 31 October, according to confirmation from lafm.com.co. The cargo, distributed in 80 packages containing two thousand parcels, was destined for markets in North America and Europe.
President Abelardo de la Espriella announced the result on his X account. "Our National Navy, in a combined operation with the United States, seized two tonnes of cocaine in Colombian Caribbean waters and intercepted two vessels with five individuals on board," wrote the president.
De la Espriella described the operation as a direct blow to drug trafficking networks and their maritime routes. "Over five million doses were prevented from reaching the streets," he noted, and warned that the State would continue pursuing the financial structures of these groups. "We will pursue their routes, strike their financial structures and close off all their pathways. We will not permit them to use our seas to flood the world with drugs," he added.
Crew members threw packages into the sea to evade authorities
Coastguard units intercepted two speedboats moving through Colombian Caribbean waters in coordination with the South Interagency Joint Task Force. During the procedure, the crew members of one of the motorboats threw several packages into the water in an attempt to destroy the evidence.
Frigate Captain Julio César Chacón Sánchez, commander of the Cartagena Coastguard Station, explained that units deployed search and recovery operations following that manoeuvre. "Coastguard units deployed search and recovery operations, successfully locating and recovering 80 packages containing the suspect material," stated Chacón Sánchez.
The recovered cargo was transferred to the Cartagena Coastguard Station. There, in coordination with the Prosecutor's Office Technical Investigation Body, the corresponding judicial procedures were carried out and the Homologated Preliminary Identification Test, which confirmed that the substance was cocaine.
Economic damage exceeding 92 million dollars
According to Navy estimates, the operation represents economic damage exceeding 92 million dollars for drug trafficking organisations, equivalent to over five million doses of cocaine that did not reach international illegal markets.
"With this operation, the Naval Institution weakens the logistical and financial capacities of drug trafficking organisations, by preventing the use of Colombian Caribbean maritime routes for the transport of illicit substances to international markets," clarified Frigate Captain Chacón Sánchez.
The five captured individuals and the two intercepted vessels were placed at the disposal of the competent authorities to advance judicial proceedings. The National Navy confirmed that it will continue developing maritime interdiction operations jointly with national and international authorities to counter drug trafficking through Caribbean routes.
Source: Google News CO — Crime