El Salvador Navy seizes 6.6 tons of cocaine worth $165M offshore, detaining 10 crew members in a landmark operation.
The El Salvador Navy has conducted the largest drug operation in the country's history by seizing tons of cocaine during an operation in international waters.
According to President Nayib Bukele, teams seized a smuggling vessel operating approximately 380 nautical miles southwest of the country's shores, well outside the exclusive economic zone. The vessel, identified as the FMS Eagle, is an offshore workboat with a ramp at the stern.
Military teams that boarded the ship found a total of 6.6 tons of cocaine hidden in 330 packages within the ballast tanks. It was reported that divers were working inside the tanks to extract the drugs.
Bukele stated that the seized shipment is valued at approximately 165 million dollars, which corresponds to an average of 25 thousand dollars per kilogram. It is known that in recent years, import prices in Europe have hovered around 18 thousand dollars per kilogram or lower.
As part of the operation, 10 crew members of South and Central American nationality were detained. While it was announced that the ship would be confiscated by the state, no details were provided regarding the legal status of the crew.
The Bukele administration, known for its strict security policies, emphasized that the operation aligns with international efforts to enhance the fight against drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
