PUERTO VALLARTA (PVDN) – In a significant operation, the Secretary of the Navy (Semar) of Mexico intercepted a semi-submersible vessel carrying over 3.5 tons of alleged cocaine off the Baja California Sur coast in the Pacific Ocean. This seizure, conducted on Thursday by a trinomial ship-helicopter-interceptor patrol, marks the most significant bust for the country under the administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which began on December 1, 2018.
According to a statement from Semar, the Mexican Navy, acting as the Coast Guard, detained five individuals of unspecified nationalities. The suspects were aboard the vessel, which was identified and tracked by Mexican Navy aircraft and ocean-going vessels equipped with helicopters and interceptor patrols.
“Naval agents boarded the illegal vessel in motion, under conditions of strong winds and waves on the high seas,” the statement read. The detainees and the seized cargo were transported to La Paz, Baja California Sur, where they were handed over to the appropriate authorities for further investigation.
The vessel, the first of its kind to be intercepted in 2023, is 26 meters long and equipped with two internal engines. It has an average speed of 8 knots and an autonomy of 20 days, indicating a high-capacity transport vehicle for illicit goods.
The seized drugs, consisting of approximately 186 packages of presumed cocaine, are the largest quantity secured in a single operation during López Obrador’s tenure. This interception significantly contributes to the total of 21.29 tons of cocaine seized at sea this year, highlighting the Mexican Navy’s tireless efforts to combat narcotics trafficking.
This latest success also brings the total number of people arrested at sea for illegal activities to 121 this year, showcasing the Mexican Navy’s crucial role in regional maritime security.
