In combined naval operations conducted by Colombia, Costa Rica, the United States and Panama, carried out in the Pacific Ocean with an unprecedented operation in the fight against drug trafficking, it was possible to find during the last month, 23,337 kilograms of alkaloids, preventing them from entering drug trafficking organizations, more than 770 million dollars, which are transformed into other illicit activities to support crime and the proliferation of new armed actors.
The findings are the results to comply the presidential initiative "Diamante Plan". Submarines, speedboats, containers and hideouts on land were discovered by the sensors of the air and surface platforms that participated in the framework of the "Orion" Combined Operation, making clear on this occasion that the main function of the Navies, is to deny the use of the sea to drug trafficking organizations.
The transnational importance of the phenomenon of drug trafficking and its implications, has led the National Government to strengthen maritime interdiction agreements with the United States and cooperation with different Central American countries, contributing to the interoperability of the Navies, the exchange of information and intelligence and the strengthening of trust, and mainly, to establish an effective barrier to drug trafficking, weakening the financial structures of illegal organizations, including the Residual Organized Armed Group “Oliver Sinisterra” Front, led by alias "Guacho" and the Residual Organized Armed Group (GAOs in Spanish) of the “Jaime Martínez” Mobile Column.
So far this year, the Pacific Naval Force has found 100 tons of cocaine hydrochloride and more than three tons of marijuana, higher figures compared to previous year, achieving an economic impact on drug trafficking structures, by more than 3,200 million dollars.
This military operation has hit the entire drug trafficking chain, destroying 86 laboratories and cocaine laboratories, 28,740 gallons of liquid precursors and 16,184 kilograms of solid precursors. The logistics structure of these drug trafficking organizations has been significantly weakened, with the capture of 200 criminals.
Source: National Navy