El Salvador has carried out the largest drug seizure in its history after naval forces intercepted a vessel in the Pacific Ocean carrying 6.6 tons of cocaine valued at an estimated $165 million, authorities confirmed Tuesday.
President Nayib Bukele announced that the operation took place approximately 380 nautical miles southwest of the Salvadoran coast, underscoring the country’s expanding maritime reach. The Salvadoran Navy stopped the FMS Eagle, a 180-foot multipurpose support vessel sailing under the Tanzanian flag.
According to officials, the cocaine was concealed inside the ship’s ballast tanks, a hidden compartment that required Navy divers to inspect the hull and internal structures before confirming the presence of the illicit cargo. The vessel was found carrying 330 packages of cocaine carefully stored to avoid detection.
Ten foreign nationals were detained during the operation. Authorities identified them as four Colombians, three Nicaraguans, two Panamanians, and one Ecuadorian. All suspects are expected to face criminal charges in El Salvador.
Bukele described the interdiction as “another strong blow to drug trafficking” and praised the Navy’s role in the complex offshore mission. In a light remark referencing the seized vessel, he added, “By the way, thanks for the new boat.” Officials have not disclosed the ship’s intended destination, but the seizure highlights El Salvador’s intensified naval strategy aimed at disrupting international narcotics routes across Pacific waters.