El Salvador Has Intercepted Vessels with Over 15 Tons of Cocaine at Sea

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By LatAm Reports Staff Writers

The National Navy dealt another historic blow to drug trafficking, less than 24 hours after intercepting a high-sea drug boat, intercepted another boat in which three Colombian crew members transported two tons of cocaine valued at $50 million.
With this new confiscation, the Naval Force has seized more than 15 tons of cocaine in international waters in the year, with a commercial value of $380 million.

The President of the Republic, Nayib Bukele, detailed that the boat was located 406 nautical miles (752 km) southwest of the Bocana El Cordoncillo, Estero de Jaltepeque.

“Joining a few hours after a boat with 762 kilos of cocaine had been intercepted, our National Navy has made a new drug seizure, President Bukele said.

This is the first time the authorities have located two boats in such a fast time. Bukele reported on Saturday another seizure of 762 kilos of cocaine, valued at $19 million.

The drug was transported by three crew members: one of Ecuadorian nationality and two Colombians and were located 770 nautical miles (1,426 km) southwest of the Bocana El Cordoncillo, Estero de Jaltepeque.

On these latest operations was also referred to by the U.S. Embajar in El Salvador, William Duncan, who said: It is rigorous to recognize these two new successful operations that impact criminal organizations and contribute to the protection of the entire hemisphere.

The Bukele government has starred in various and millionaire seizures on the high seas. Thanks to the joint work of the institutions, from 2019 until the end of October in El Salvador more than 45 tons of cocaine have been seized, valued at 1,024 million dollars, thus deflecting the country’s capacities in the fight against drug trafficking, said Defense head René Merino Monroy. Added to this figure is the last 2.76 tonnes seized at the weekend.

Our National Navy has shown a great level of professionalism, commitment and capacity to safeguard and guard our sea and contribute to the international community, Merino Monroy said.

On October 12, the authorities also located 920 nautical miles (1,491 kilometers) southwest of the snack El Cordoncillo, a boat with 1,551 kg of cocaine valued at more than $28 million.

Security officials have assured that El Salvador is the country most committed to the fight against drug trafficking in the region, as this illicit trafficking has been a source of funding for organized crime gangs and gangs in the country for many years, but they have been able to stop.

This article was translated after appearing in Diario El Salvador