President Nayib Bukele announced on social media that El Salvador’s Navy intercepted a low-profile vessel (LPV) 600 nautical miles southwest of El Cordoncillo inlet in the Estero de Jaltepeque. Onboard were three drug traffickers—two Ecuadorians and one Colombian—carrying 1.3 tons of cocaine, valued at approximately $33 million.
The operation marks a significant milestone in El Salvador’s ongoing efforts against drug trafficking, bringing the total seized since 2024 to 35.8 tons, representing an estimated $897.3 million blow to organized crime.
In response, U.S. Ambassador William Duncan praised the operation, stating, “Illicit trafficking knows no borders. That’s why efforts like this, led by the National Navy, reinforce regional stability.”