Mexican navy seizes nearly 8 tons of cocaine in high-stakes Pacific raids

Two high-stakes operations unfolded in the Pacific Ocean as Mexico’s navy chased down speedboats carrying a massive load of illegal cargo. During these raids, the navy seized more than 15,800 pounds of suspected cocaine, capturing footage of helicopters and patrol boats in pursuit of drug-laden speedboats.

In the first operation, naval officers intercepted three speedboats southwest of Manzanillo, seizing 126 packages containing approximately 12,345 pounds of cocaine. This marked the largest drug bust under Mexico’s current administration. The navy also arrested 15 suspects and confiscated over 264 gallons of fuel, according to a statement released Friday, Aug. 23.

In a second raid near the coastal city of Lazaro Cardenas, a region frequently impacted by cartel violence, naval patrol boats and helicopters retrieved 32 packages of cocaine weighing about 3,527 pounds. A small speedboat with three outboard motors was also seized.

🚨#ÚltimaHora🚨

Personal naval aseguró aproximadamente 5.6 toneladas de presunta cocaína, en costas de #Colima y #Michoacán.
Esto representa la mayor incautación llevada a cabo en un sólo evento, durante la presente administración.

Te compartimos los detalles en nuestro… pic.twitter.com/gwzoRE1Fvn

— SEMAR México (@SEMAR_mx) August 23, 2024

Images released by the navy showed dozens of wrapped packages lined up next to naval officers and helicopters. The Mexican Navy said the seizures are part of its ongoing efforts to combat drug cartels, particularly in coastal regions used for smuggling cocaine from South America.

Both the suspects and the seized drugs were transported to naval docks and handed over to the Attorney General’s Office for further investigation, according to naval officials.

These raids come nearly a year after a “narco sub” was intercepted off Mexico’s coast, carrying more than 7,000 pounds of cocaine. Mexico remains a crucial player in the global drug trade, serving as a major transit point for cocaine, much of which is produced in Colombia.

The Pacific Coast, especially in states like Michoacán and Colima, remains a key battleground for cartels vying for control of smuggling routes. Just days before the raids, seven community police officers were killed in Michoacán in a cartel-related attack, highlighting the ongoing violence in the region.

The Mexican Navy emphasized that these operations are part of a broader strategy to maintain security and enforce the rule of law in Mexican waters.