In a major victory against drug trafficking, Mexico’s navy made its largest maritime drug bust to date, seizing over eight tonnes of illicit cargo off the Pacific coast.
Twenty-three individuals were arrested in connection with the operation, which took place near Lazaro Cardenas in Michoacan and off the coast of Guerrero.
The navy’s statement on Friday highlighted the unprecedented nature of the haul.
“This marks the largest amount of drugs ever confiscated in a maritime operation,” it declared, with the stash valued at 2.099 billion pesos (approximately $105 million).
Though the exact type of drugs wasn’t specified, the sheer scale sent a strong message about the country’s escalating fight against cartels.
Along with the drugs, authorities confiscated 8,700 liters of fuel and six boats, one of which was a submersible, hinting at the sophistication of the smuggling operation.
The detainees, their vessels, and the illicit cargo have been handed over to authorities for further investigation.
The operation was described as complex, involving both surface units and a helicopter.
This comes on the heels of another major seizure in August, where nearly seven tonnes of drugs were captured in the same region.
Mexico has long battled powerful cartels, and the scale of these operations reflects the increasing ingenuity of traffickers.
As the US continues to push Mexico to curb the flow of drugs north, Mexico in turn has urged the US to do more to prevent firearms from crossing the border, fueling violence.
The latest bust stands as a significant milestone in Mexico’s ongoing fight against the drug trade, showing both the scale of the challenge and the country’s determination to disrupt these criminal networks.
You May Also Like: 30 Arrested in Major Luzerne County Drug Bust as Authorities Crack Down on Trafficking
