Mexico’s navy said on Friday it had arrested 23 people in its largest-ever drugs bust. They said they seized some 8.4 thousand kilograms of illicit cargo in an operation off the country’s southwestern Pacific coast.
“This represents the largest quantity of drugs seized in a maritime operation, without precedent in the history of the institution,” the navy said in a statement.
Assets Worth Two $100 Million
The seized drug assets are worth at least two billion pesos ($100 million), the navy said. In addition to that, the navy also seized 8.7 thousand litres of fuel and six boats off the coast near Lazaro Cardenas, in Michoacan state, and further south off the coast of Guerrero state.
“Navy personnel seized 8,361 kilograms of illicit cargo, which represents the largest amount of drugs seized in a maritime operation, unprecedented in history,” a statement from the ministry of the navy said on Friday.
“The 23 detainees, who were read their rights, as well as the six boats, the presumed drugs and the fuel, were handed over to the competent authorities for integration into the corresponding investigation,” the navy added.
The drugs were distributed in six small boats and one of the vessels was a submersible, which implied a “complex” action on the part of the sailors, the ministry added.
Mexico’s Response
Previously, the largest drug seizure in Mexico’s history took place in November 2007. Around 23 tonnes of Colombian cocaine was seized back then. According to the navy, the recent drug bust announcement represents the largest amount ever seized in a maritime operation.
The latest raid reported on Friday was carried out “days ago” by surface units backed by a helicopter, the ministry said.
On 23 August, authorities reported they had impounded about seven tonnes of drugs in two separate operations in the same area of the country.
The Mexican navy, which conducts surveillance operations on a permanent basis, has discovered all kinds of drug shipments, including one of cocaine stuffed in 217 barrels of chilli sauce in 2016.
The United States has pushed Mexico to ramp up its efforts to stop drug trafficking. On the other hand, Mexico has pressured the United States to do more to stem the flow of firearms to criminal groups across the border into Mexico.
(with inputs from Reuters)
