Almost eight tons of cocaine headed for Central America has been seized in two raids conducted with cooperation between authorities from Colombia, the United States, Honduras and Panama.
In the first operation, U.S. and Panamanian authorities found 3.5 tons of cocaine in a vessel in the archipelago of San Blas in Panama, mixed with the ship’s fuel.
One Spanish and one Colombian national were arrested on board the ship, which was called “Intaka” and flew a U.S. Navy flag. According to Colombian authorities, the ship had sailed from the Colombian port of Cartagena and was destined for the port of Colon in Panama.
In another operation, carried out in international waters, 160 nautical miles from Colombia’s San Andres Island, a U.S. maritime patrol aircraft located a semi-submersible ship, with the capability to store approximately 4.5 tons of cocaine. Four Colombians and a Honduran national were arrested.
The seizures were, according to Colombian officials, the result of maritime agreements signed by authorities from the four countries, which facilitated the exchange of information.