The Territorial Control Plan (PCT) has enabled the National Navy to significantly increase drug seizures at sea, extending operations to greater distances from the Salvadoran coast. The initiative, implemented under President Nayib Bukele’s administration, has positioned El Salvador as a regional leader in the fight against international drug trafficking.
Defense Minister René Francis Merino Monroy emphasized the impact of the PCT, stating that drug seizures have increased both in volume and operational reach. Between 2009 and 2017, under previous administrations, drug seizures ranged from 299 kilograms to 6.8 tons of cocaine, with interceptions occurring between 1.5 and 412 nautical miles from the coast. In contrast, from 2020 to 2024, seizures surged to between 10 and 16.7 tons of cocaine, with operations reaching distances of 1,050 nautical miles offshore.
«Just as El Salvador has become the safest country in the Western Hemisphere under President Nayib Bukele, we are also setting a global standard in the maritime fight against drug trafficking,» stated Minister Merino Monroy. He further noted that the National Navy has strategically expanded its interdiction efforts to prevent narcotics from remaining in Central America or reaching their final destinations.
The increase in maritime patrol reach is evident in the data: in 2011, drug seizures were conducted as close as 1.5 nautical miles from the Salvadoran coastline. By 2015, interdictions extended up to 90 nautical miles, and by 2017, operations reached 412 nautical miles. Under the PCT, the figures continued to rise, reaching 525 nautical miles in 2023 and an unprecedented 1,050 nautical miles in 2024. Minister Merino Monroy has announced that this year will mark the largest maritime drug seizure in the nation’s history.
U.S. Recognizes El Salvador’s Commitment to Combatting Drug Trafficking
The U.S. State Department has recognized El Salvador’s efforts in its “International Narcotics Control Strategy 2025” report, highlighting the country’s steadfast commitment to dismantling trafficking networks and improving intelligence-sharing initiatives.
The report commended El Salvador for executing large-scale drug interdictions up to 1,600 kilometers offshore, surpassing the typical operational range of many Latin American navies. U.S. collaboration has played a key role in enhancing these efforts.
Between January and September 2024, El Salvador’s Police Anti-Narcotics Division (DAN) seized 8.1 metric tons of cocaine, with 99.8% of confiscations occurring at sea. The DAN also seized 383 kilograms of marijuana, 1.78 kilograms of crack cocaine, 0.41 kilograms of methamphetamine, and 101 ampoules of fentanyl. Additionally, law enforcement confiscated more than $371,000 in illicit cash and arrested 949 individuals on drug-related charges, representing a 161% increase in cocaine seizures compared to 2023.
The Salvadoran Navy conducted eight major drug seizures between January and September 2024, intercepting a total of 8,085 metric tons of cocaine in waters between 490 and 1,004 nautical miles offshore. A total of 73 foreign nationals were apprehended transporting illicit substances.
The State Department also underscored El Salvador’s ongoing preparations for emerging drug threats, its efforts to strengthen institutional capacity, and its commitment to preventing drug-related crimes. Additionally, the country continues to demonstrate its dedication to combating corruption by identifying and prosecuting offenders within its law enforcement agencies.
With its expanding maritime operations and international recognition, El Salvador remains at the forefront of the fight against transnational drug trafficking, reinforcing security within its borders and beyond.