El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele announced a new milestone in the country’s fight against international drug trafficking, after authorities intercepted a vessel carrying 1,795 kilos of cocaine worth over $44.8 million. The operation was carried out by the Salvadoran Navy approximately 1,150 nautical miles (2,130 kilometers) off the nation’s Pacific coast.
According to Bukele, the vessel was manned by three Ecuadorian nationals who were detained during the interception. “This is another historic achievement in our efforts to dismantle international drug networks and protect our region from the violence and corruption fueled by narcotrafficking,” the president stated.
The seizure marks one of the largest cocaine busts in El Salvador’s history and underscores the government’s ongoing strategy to strengthen maritime security and curb transnational crime.