With the finding of 5.5 tons of the narcotic, a blow of 184 million dollars was dealt to the finances of the drug trafficking organizations.
This finding prevented 5,500 medical emergencies and $3.5 million in additional public health expenditures.
More than 13 million doses of cocaine were no longer sold on the international illegal market.
In the waters of the Caribbean Sea, the Colombian Navy dealt a millionaire blow to drug trafficking organizations with three operations where it was possible to find about 5.5 tons of cocaine hydrochloride, multinationally and jointly with authorities from Colombia, Panama and the United States.
The first result was consolidated 120 nautical miles northwest of the Gulf of Morrosquillo, where units of the Colombian Navy, the Colombian Air Force, the National Aeronautical Naval Service – SENAN of Panama and the Joint Interagency Task Force of the Southern Command of the United States – JIATFS, reported the detection of a go fast type ship manned by five individuals, four Colombians and a Panamanian, who upon detecting the existence of the authorities, began to escape by conducting evasive maneuvers and leaving an undetermined amount of sacks at sea.
Subsequently, and thanks to the timely operation of the naval units, it was possible to intercept the ship at sea and recover 77 sacks containing 1911 rectangular packages. The substance was analyzed and the result was positive for 1915.5 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride.
The second operation was carried out thanks to the combination of Surface and Naval Aviation Resources of the Colombian Navy, together with naval units of the SENAN Panama and aircraft of the Colombian Air Force and JIATFS, who reported the detection and maritime interception of the second go fast type ship 97 nautical miles northwest of the Gulf of Morrosquillo.
When carrying out the inspection of the boat, 88 sacks with 2198 rectangular packages were found by troops, which were transported by four individuals of Colombian nationality, who apparently intended to take the cargo to a port in Honduras. Once on the ground, the Preliminary Identification Test Approved for the substance contained in the packages was carried out, establishing that it was 2198.4 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride.
Finally, the third blow to the drug trafficking organizations was given with the participation of units of the Colombian Navy, the Colombian Air Force and the SENAN Panama, and culminated in the recovery of 56 sacks with 1367 rectangular packages with cocaine hydrochloride, which were left from a speedboat in the waters of the Caribbean Sea when the individuals who crewed it saw the members of the Military Forces, escaping.
The arrested men and the material found in the operations were put into custody of the authorities to continue the prosecution process according to the established procedure.
With these heavy joint and multinational results, the illegal groups stopped will not receive more than $184 million to drug trafficking organizations, 5,500 medical emergencies were prevented as well as additional public health expenses by and $3.5 million. In addition, 13 million doses of cocaine will not be marketed on the international illegal market, damaging the logistical and financial chain of the groups that use maritime routes to transport illicit drugs.
With this finding, which is the largest of cocaine hydrochloride that has been reported in Colombian Caribbean waters during 2023, the Caribbean Naval Force has prevented 45.1 tons of cocaine hydrochloride from reaching their destination ports this year, dealing a blow of 1521 million dollars to the finances of multicrime organizations.
Source: Press – Navy of Colombia
