Colombian armed forces seize record-breaking three-ton cocaine shipment
The Colombian Armed Forces intercepted the largest cocaine shipment of 2023 near the San Andrés archipelago.
The shipment, which was discovered on a fast boat suspected to be headed for Central America, weighed three tons and had a street value of over USD 100 million.
The operation was carried out by air and sea units, including the naval aviation patrol and the ARC Caldas missile frigate. The chase began after authorities received an alert about a suspicious boat sailing through the Caribbean Sea. After a long pursuit, the boat was intercepted 313 kilometers off the coast of San Andrés.
The crew, comprised of four Colombian men, was detained after surrendering. The boat was initially towed to the frigate Caldas and later taken to the port for further legal proceedings.
Upon inspection, authorities found 120 sacks containing 2,994 blocks of cocaine hydrochloride. Each block was marked with the acronym TXL, a mark recurrent in seizures in the Caribbean Sea and even in Venezuela.
The authorities seized the boat, communication equipment, and the four suspects. According to the Navy, the confiscated haul will be destroyed. The entire seizure has been handed over to the country's Attorney General's Office for further legal action.
The interception of this record-breaking cocaine shipment is a significant blow to drug trafficking groups operating in the region. It also highlights the Colombian Armed Forces' commitment to combating drug trafficking and protecting the country's maritime borders. (ILKHA)