In a significant drug bust, the National Navy of El Salvador recently seized 762 kilograms of cocaine in the Pacific Ocean. The haul is valued at approximately $19 million, according to a report from President Nayib Bukele on Saturday.
The operation took place 1,426 kilometers off the coast, near the El Cordoncillo river mouth, located between the departments of San Vicente and La Paz in central El Salvador. The Salvadoran Navy intercepted a vessel carrying three crew members—one Ecuadorian and two Colombians.
Nuestra Marina Nacional ha realizado una nueva incautación de droga.
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) November 23, 2024
A 770 millas náuticas (1,426 km) al suroeste de la Bocana El Cordoncillo, Estero de Jaltepeque, se interceptó una embarcación con 3 tripulantes; uno de nacionalidad ecuatoriana y dos colombianos, que… pic.twitter.com/vXCwmqMNqs
President Bukele shared that with this operation, El Salvador has now seized over 13 tons of cocaine in international waters in just eight months, with an estimated value of around $330 million.
Between January and October 2024, Salvadoran authorities have seized at least 12.8 tons of drugs, with 12.4 tons of that being cocaine. The total value of these drugs is approximately $313 million.
According to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), drug trafficking in Central America and the Caribbean has contributed to the high levels of violence in the region, as criminal groups fight for control of drug routes.
El Salvador is listed by the U.S. government as one of the countries with high levels of drug production and trafficking, alongside nations like Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Panama, Peru, and Venezuela. This annual list helps the U.S. determine funding for anti-drug efforts.
