Colombian Navy seizes three tons of cocaine valued at over $41mln
3 Min Read
To date this year, Colombian Navy officials reported the confiscation of 265 tons of cocaine.
-
The seized shipment of cocaine, valued at around $41 million (Colombian MoD)
Colombian authorities have reported the seizure of over one ton of cocaine, with an estimated street value of tens of millions of dollars, following the interception of a "suspicious" motorboat en route to Central America.
The vessel, identified as a "go-fast" boat, was spotted navigating the waters near the Providencia Archipelago, the sole Colombian territory located in Central America, approximately 110 miles off the Nicaraguan coast. The Maritime Task Group of the Colombian Navy, after an extensive pursuit, successfully intercepted the boat.
The boat, operated by a crew of five individuals from Colombia, was found to contain 48 packages and 40 unboxed rectangular packages containing a substance deemed suspicious. Upon transferring the boat and its crew to the San Andrés Coast Guard Station, preliminary testing confirmed the substance to be cocaine, according to the navy.
#Actualidad | Incautadas en San Andrés y Providencia 3 toneladas de cocaína avaluadas en 100 millones de dólares.
— W Radio Colombia (@WRadioColombia) September 14, 2023
La embarcación, que fue interceptada por la Armada, era tripulada por cuatro sujetos de nacionalidad colombiana.https://t.co/z83EE2Lhr9 pic.twitter.com/KtCze34cuw
Based on the test results, the confiscated cocaine weighed approximately 1,235 kilograms, equivalent to about 1.36 tons. In the international illegal drug market, this quantity is valued at "more than $41,619,000," as reported by authorities.
Colombia is a major producer of cocaine, accounting for 60% of the global supply, with Peru and Bolivia also being significant producers.
"Go-fast" boats are commonly used to transport drugs and can be adapted to avoid detection. They have been utilized for drug trafficking since the 1980s, often arriving in Mexico before the drugs are smuggled into the US.
"Narco submarines" have also been employed for drug transport, with the Colombian navy intercepting 228 such vessels over the past 30 years. In 2023 alone, the Colombian navy has prevented at least 13 "narco subs" from reaching their destinations. These submarines typically ride low in the water to avoid detection but do not fully submerge.
In May 2023, Colombian authorities seized the largest known narco-submarine on record, measuring 100 feet in length and 10 feet in width, with a cargo of three tons of cocaine. Just a fortnight later, the crew of a semi-submersible vessel, carrying over 5,000 pounds of cocaine valued at $81 million, attempted to sink both the drugs and the sub upon detection by Colombian authorities. These efforts proved unsuccessful, leading to the arrest of the three individuals on board.
To date this year, Colombian Navy officials reported the confiscation of 265 tons of cocaine.
Read more: Nazi cocaine package heading to Belgium, intercepted by Peru police
