Colombia Says Navy Seized Two Tonnes of Cocaine in Caribbean Operation With U.S.

Colombia’s Navy seized 2,001 kilograms of cocaine in a combined operation with the United States in Colombian Caribbean waters, President Abelardo De La Espriella announced on October 31. He said authorities intercepted two vessels carrying five people. His announcement described the haul as two tonnes and credited the Navy with the seizure. De La Espriella estimated that the operation deprived criminal organizations of more than US$92 million and prevented more than five million doses from reaching the streets. Those figures were the president’s estimates of the shipment’s value and potential distribution. “We will not allow them to use our seas to flood the world with drugs,” he said. He also pledged to pursue trafficking routes and the financial structures behind them. According to the president, people aboard the vessels tried to evade the authorities by throwing packages into the sea during the operation. Coastguards carried out a search and recovery effort and retrieved 80 bales containing 2,000 packages of cocaine. De La Espriella said the five crew members and both vessels were placed at the disposal of the authorities following the interception and recovery.