Nariño. Maritime Interdiction Operations conducted by the National Navy in the Colombian South Pacific, led to the discovery of 1,381 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride and the capture of six individuals belonging to drug trafficking organizations in the department of Nariño.
The strategy implemented by the National Navy to close spaces for drug trafficking in the Colombian Pacific led to have naval intelligence information for the discovery and interdiction of a modified boat submarine-type, which was drifting in the area of Sanquianga National Natural Park, after suffering mechanical failures during its transit that caused a fire in the engines and the entry of water to the boat.
During the inspection the troops found three crew members, among them an Ecuadorian, a Mexican and a Colombian, two of them had second degree burns. On board the ship they transported 46 bags with 1,324 blocks of alkaloids, fuel, a satellite phone and GPS positioning equipment.
The wounded received immediate medical assistance aboard the units of the National Navy. The boat sank due to the uncontrollable entry of water.
A few hours before, in the area of the Sanquianga National Natural Park, units of the Pacific Naval Force had intercepted a boat with two outboard motors, in which two Colombians and an Ecuadorian were transporting illegal merchandise. Noticing the presence of the authorities, they fled and threw the cargo into the sea. Fast reaction units of the Tumaco Coastguard recover one of the bags containing 50 blocks of alkaloids. After a pursuit, it was possible to intercept the boat, and capture the three drug dealers and find 250 gallons of fuel.
The two operations led to the capture of six individuals, the discovery of a ship and 47 bags with 1374 packages of alkaloid substances, which were taken to the facilities of the National Navy in Tumaco and put into custody of the Technical Investigation Corps for the respective inspection.
The judicial authorities determined that the substance contained in the packages is 1381 kilos of cocaine hydrochloride and its cost would be around 45.5 million dollars in the international market. The individuals will be prosecuted for the crimes of trafficking, manufacturing and / or carrying of narcotics.
The naval intelligence could establish that the pressure exerted by the Armed Forces on the criminal structures of alias "David", leader of the organized armed group "Guerrillas Unidas del Pacífico", has led to the gradual loss of control over the routes of drug trafficking, in this region of the country, reason why the other drug trafficking organizations do not pay what these criminals call "tax or grammage", for the transit of alkaloids in the different mobility routes. As retaliation to non-payment, they leak information to the Public Force about the departure of the smuggled drugs.
So far this year, the Pacific Naval Force has found more than 53 tons of alkaloid, preventing about 1,800 million dollars from entering the drug trafficking organizations.
Source: Pacific Naval Force - National Navy.
