The President of the Republic, Nayib Bukele, reported that the Trident Naval Task Force of the Armed Forces seized a new shipment of cocaine valued at more than $55 million dollars.
The Salvadoran president explained that the seizure was carried out 450 nautical miles southwest of the Acajutla port, Sonsonate department.
He added that in the procedure he intercepted two low-profile vessels, or LPV [Low Profile Vessel], in which the drug traffickers were transporting approximately 2.2 tons of cocaine valued at more than $55 million.
At the time of the interception, FTNT officers arrested its three crew members; one Ecuadorian and two Colombians.
“Then the boat that came to pick her up was intercepted. The boat was also intercepted, seized, and its crew captured. There were four Guatemalans,” explained the head of state.
The head of state added that, “Our Naval Force will deliver to the @FGR_SV and @PNCSV, to weigh the packages one by one and give an exact figure. The 7 traffickers will go to prison and the drug boats will be seized. Our radio system is still receiving the rest of the images,” President Bukele said.
Regarding the seizure, the Minister of National Defense, Francis Merino Monroy, said that while on land they continue to wage war against gangs, in the Pacific Ocean, the government of President Nayib Bukele contributes to the international community in the fight against drug trafficking. . “Bravo Zulu Naval Task Force Trident,” he wrote.
The Charge d’Affaires of the United States Embassy, Katherine Dueholm, congratulated the president on the operation and said, “Congratulations to you, Mr. President, and to @FuerzaArmadaSV! This is a major blow against drug trafficking!».
One of the last large seizures on the high seas occurred last May, 903.7 kilometers southwest of the Salvadoran coast, in which a boat was transporting 810 kilograms of cocaine with a value of $20,250,000.
On that occasion, the Security Cabinet authorities reported that between January 1 and May 17, the FTNT had seized 3.7 tons of narcotics out of a total of 4.6 tons of cocaine in conjunction with the Anti-Narcotics Division of the National Civil Police.
From the last seizure, Merino Monroy explained that the drug left the Esmeraldas port in Ecuador and its final destination was the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. The cocaine was transferred in a low-profile boat led by Ecuadorians: Alexis Ramón Pillasagua and Jhon Jairo Minero Castillo, in addition to the Colombian Sandro Cabezas.
This was the second million-dollar drug shipment intercepted in the month of May by the security forces, after the FTNT located another shipment 574 kilometers south of the Salvadoran coast in the La Concordia sector on May 4. Peace; The boat was carrying 28 packages containing more than 800 kilos of cocaine valued at $20 million. That drug was already incinerated.
On Saturday, the second millionaire seizure took place. A heavy drug shipment valued at over $17 million. The procedure was confirmed by the President, Nayib Bukele.
According to the Salvadoran president, the drug was located 480 nautical miles southwest of Acajutla. The substance is cocaine, and the shipment located is around 700 kilograms, with a market value of approximately $17 million.
In addition, the president pointed out that the drug was intercepted in a boat manned by two people of Ecuadorian nationality, who have already been placed under arrest by the naval authorities and will be handed over to the National Civil Police (PNC).