Mexico’s navy has achieved its largest-ever drug bust, arresting 23 individuals and seizing over eight tonnes of illicit cargo off the country’s south-western Pacific coast. The seized drugs, valued at $105 million, have been handed over to authorities for further investigation.
The operation took place near Lazaro Cardenas, in Michoacan state, and off the coast of Guerrero state. The navy seized six boats and 8,700 litres of fuel along with the drugs. The 23 detainees were informed of their rights before being handed over to the authorities.
The navy stated that one of the seized boats was a submersible, indicating a sophisticated operation carried out by the sailors. This drug bust is considered the largest in Mexico’s maritime history, surpassing the previous record of 23 tonnes of Colombian cocaine seized in 2007.
The Mexican navy has been conducting regular surveillance operations and has previously discovered drug shipments, including cocaine hidden in barrels of chilli sauce in 2016. The US has urged Mexico to increase efforts to combat drug trafficking, while Mexico has called for more action from the US to prevent firearms from being trafficked into Mexico.
This latest success in intercepting significant drug shipments underscores Mexico’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and international cooperation on this issue.
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