In 2024, El Salvador marked a historic milestone in its fight against drug trafficking, seizing a record 17.2 tons of drugs, valued at $429 million. This significant haul, attributed to 13 successful operations, primarily occurred in international waters and far exceeds the previous five years, where drug confiscations ranged from 785 kilograms to 13 tons.
The contrast with 2023 is stark, with only 3.6 tons seized, a substantial drop compared to 13 tons in 2022. The Salvadoran government credits the remarkable increase to intensified surveillance of its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), a maritime area extending 370 kilometers from the coastline, where the nation holds rights over natural resource management and exploitation.
“This vile drug trade will not be tolerated in this country, and we will go to any lengths to combat this poison,” stated Security Minister Gustavo Villatoro, describing 2024 as a record-breaking year for drug seizures in El Salvador’s history.
El Salvador’s collaborative efforts with international agencies, notably the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), have played a crucial role in this achievement. Sharing intelligence on trafficking routes, real-time aerial and maritime surveillance, and criminal networks, the partnership has enabled joint operations to intercept suspicious vessels in international waters. A notable operation on December 30, 2024, led to the seizure of 1.5 tons of cocaine and the arrest of two Ecuadorian nationals.
These operations were spearheaded by the Trident Task Force, a specialized naval unit tasked with combating illicit activities in territorial waters. Despite being a relatively minor player in the global drug trade, El Salvador serves as a storage and transit point along the Pacific coast, facilitating cocaine transport between Honduras, Guatemala, and onward to Mexico and the U.S.
Insight Crime, a research center focused on organized crime in Latin America, underscores El Salvador’s role in the global drug trade. The country’s porous borders with Honduras and Guatemala, combined with a short but strategically significant coastline, make it a hub for smuggling operations, including drugs, weapons, and migrants.
Under the exceptional regime imposed in March 2022, local gangs like Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18, who once controlled neighborhood drug distribution, have seen their power significantly diminished. This shift has allowed the government to dismantle local criminal groups involved in drug sales, including a delivery-based operation dismantled in mid-2024, which utilized home delivery services for drug distribution.
While El Salvador has made strides in increasing drug seizures, the evolving tactics of drug traffickers continue to present ongoing challenges.