* This finding prevented the commercialization of 1.3 million doses of cocaine on the international illegal market.
* The operation combined Surface, Naval Aviation and Coast Guard Assets of the Colombian Navy with an aircraft of the Colombian Air Force.
Units of the Colombian Navy, in a joint work with the Colombian Air Force and in a combined way with the Interagency Joint Task Force of the Southern Command of the United States - JIAFTS, found more than 550 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride, that would cost 18 million dollars, which now won’t enter the drug trafficking organizations that commit crimes in the Colombian Caribbean.
In the operation, Surface Resources, Naval Aviation and Coast Guard of the Colombian Navy combined with an aircraft of the Colombian Air Force, who detected a suspicious ship in the waters of the Caribbean Sea, which apparently was heading to a port in the United States.
Upon noticing the work of the authorities, the two the Dominican Republic individuals, who were crewing the Go Fast type boat, left an indeterminate amount of sacks at sea and started to escape. After several minutes of pursuit, a Rapid Reaction Unit of the Coast Guard of Cartagena together with an aircraft of the Colombian Navy conducted the maritime interception 134 nautical miles northeast from Puerto Bolívar - La Guajira.
The Colombian sailors proceeded to collect the material of the water, recovering 22 sacks inside which 550 rectangular packages with narcotics were found by troops. The men and the material were taken to Santa Marta - Magdalena, in order to continue with the established procedure.
Once there, the Approved Preliminary Identification Test – PIPH was carried out on the substance contained in the packages, establishing that it was 552 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride. The two foreigners and the material found were put into custody of the authorities.
It is estimated that, with the finding of this shipment, the commercialization of more than 1.3 million doses of cocaine on the international illegal market was prevented; in addition, it was possible to hit the logistical and financial structures of organizations serving drug trafficking, thanks to the joint effort conducted by the Colombian military and multinational Forces with JIAFTS.
Source: Press – Navy of Colombia
