In a historic blow to international drug trafficking, the Salvadoran National Navy successfully intercepted 6.68 tons of cocaine during a coordinated maritime operation. President Nayib Bukele announced the achievement through his official X account, branding the mission as “the most decisive blow against drug trafficking in the history of El Salvador.” The massive seizure has an estimated street value of $167 million dollars.
The high-stakes operation unfolded on June 18, 2026, when naval forces located a low-profile vessel (LPV) 582 nautical miles southwest of Bocana El Cordoncillo. Onboard, authorities captured three foreign nationals—two Colombians and one Ecuadorian—who were transporting 3.425 tons of illicit cargo. Just six hours later, a second identical vessel was tracked down 633 nautical miles away in the same operational area, carrying three more smugglers of the same nationalities alongside 3.255 tons of cocaine.
This strategic victory establishes a new national milestone, surpassing the previous record of 6.606 tons seized in a single operation earlier this year on February 13. With this latest enforcement triumph, El Salvador has accumulated a staggering 13.286 tons of confiscated cocaine so far in 2026, dealing a financial blow to cartels exceeding $332.15 million dollars.
The successful double-interception underscores the country’s expanded naval capabilities and its aggressive stance against transnational organized crime. Commenting on the geopolitical impact of the raid, President Bukele emphasized that Salvadoran forces “continue to take the war against drug trafficking to where they previously operated with total impunity.”