Mexico's Navy Seizes Over 8 Tons Of Illegal Cargo In Largest Ever Drug Bust

Mexico’s Navy made history with the country’s largest-ever maritime narcotics bust, arresting 23 people and seizing over 8,000 kg of illicit cargo off the southwestern Pacific coast.

The operation near Lázaro Cárdenas in Michoacán and Guerrero state confiscated six vessels and 8,700 litres of fuel.

Per a statement released by the Navy, this is the largest narcotics seizure at sea in the institution’s history. The operation, which involved navy personnel, surface units, and the support of a Panther helicopter, intercepted several vessels suspected of carrying illegal cargo.

Naval forces spotted one boat with three outboard motors and eight crew members. When the crew realized they were being pursued, they attempted to abandon the cargo in the sea.

However, navy forces collected 94 packages weighing around 2,105 kilos and 38 barrels containing 1,250 litres of fuel. The crew was immediately arrested.

A second boat, equipped with three outboard motors, was seized with 125 barrels of fuel and 49 packages of illegal cargo weighing around 1,102 kg.

Further south, a third vessel was seized off the coast of Guerrero with 40 cargo totaling approximately 1,200 kg and 24 fuel barrels.

One of the most interesting aspects of the operation was the capture of a fourth vessel, a semi-submersible equipped with three outboard motors designed mainly to avoid detection.

The Navy’s highly trained personnel carried out a high-risk aerial boarding from a helicopter while the ship was still in motion, capturing 93 packages totaling roughly 2,179 kg.

Two more ships with six crew members were also captured, together with 75 packages of drugs weighing 1,774 kilograms and 950 litres of fuel.

The total estimated value of the confiscated assets exceeds 2 billion pesos (about $100 million). The 23 people arrested, the vessels, the drugs, and the fuel were all handed over to the police for further investigation.

Reference: Reuters, FirstPost

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