More than 1.3 tons of cocaine seized in El Salvador

Dog detects a ton of cocaine in coffee bags (April 2021) 0:42

(CNN Spanish) -

The authorities of El Salvador seized more than 1.3 tons of cocaine and detained a Colombian, two Ecuadorians and three Mexicans during the procedure, the Attorney General's Office reported.

The seizure is the largest to date in international waters, according to the Prosecutor's Office, and, although it arrived on land this Wednesday, it was carried out on July 31 at about 490 nautical miles off the Salvadoran coast.

Officials from El Salvador seized the cocaine in international waters (Credit: Twitter account of the Attorney General's Office of El Salvador)

The Minister of Justice and Security of El Salvador, Gustavo Villatoro, said this Thursday that it is a strong blow to organized crime.

"Internally, we are also determined to continue fighting head-on drug dealing and drug trafficking. We know the homicidal violence that this crime generates and leads consumers to death or to hospital," Villatoro said in a press conference.

• Nine members of the MS-13 gang were charged with murder, kidnapping and drug distribution, among other charges.

Elements of the Naval Force of El Salvador were responsible for the operation, which was carried out when the suspects transferred at least 70 packages of drugs from one boat to another, after suffering damage.

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"The amount of 1,370 kilograms of cocaine seized has been counted. This in the market has a value of US $ 34,250,000", informed the Minister of Defense of El Salvador, Francis Merino Monroy.

The authorities assure that they have requested information from Ecuador, Colombia and Mexico about the detainees.

The suspects will be accused in El Salvador of the crime of illicit drug trafficking.

According to the head of the Specialized Unit, in the next few days the formal request will be presented to the corresponding courts.