El Salvador has marked 2024 as its most successful year in the battle against drug trafficking, with authorities seizing a record 17,224 kilos of drugs, valued at $422.7 million. The drugs seized include marijuana, cocaine, crack, heroin, ecstasy, and methamphetamine. The year saw a 40% reduction in violent crimes, including drug trafficking, a significant win for the country’s security efforts.
Minister of Defense René Francis Merino Monroy celebrated 2024 as the most efficient year in the fight against drug trafficking, highlighting the country’s efforts to contribute to global efforts in combating this harmful trade. The increase in drug seizures was a stark contrast to previous years, where significantly lower amounts were confiscated, such as 3.6 tons in 2023.
Among the most notable achievements of the year were the historic cocaine seizures at sea. A record-breaking operation took place on December 23, where the National Navy seized 1,500 kilos of cocaine—valued at $37.5 million—1,050 nautical miles (1,945 kilometers) from El Salvador’s coast. This was the furthest distance from the coast in the nation’s history that drugs had been intercepted. This operation added to the country’s growing track record in disrupting international drug trafficking networks.
Throughout 2024, the National Navy set new distance records by conducting successful operations at up to 1,050 nautical miles from the Salvadoran coast. These efforts demonstrated El Salvador’s increasing ability to protect its maritime spaces and take action against drug cartels operating on international waters.
President Nayib Bukele and Minister of Security Gustavo Villatoro expressed firm resolve in continuing to fight the drug trade and its associated violence, with Villatoro vowing that the country would pursue drug traffickers wherever they operate. The country’s commitment to protecting both national and international communities from the harm of drug trafficking has been underscored by these major seizures, which have had a significant impact on reducing the flow of illegal substances into the region.
As El Salvador continues its aggressive stance against organized crime, the country’s success in 2024 demonstrates the effectiveness of its strategies and its ability to disrupt criminal networks on both land and sea.