Mexico's Navy said it arrested 23 people in its largest ever drug bust, seizing more than eight tons of illicit cargo in an operation off the country's southwestern Pacific coast.
“Private Navy seized 8,361 kilograms of illicit cargo, which represents the largest amount of drugs seized in a maritime operation, unprecedented in history,” a statement from the Ministry of the Navy indicated on Friday.
He did not specify the type of drugs, but said they were valued at 2,099 million pesos (105 million dollars).
The Navy also seized 8,700 liters of fuel and six boats on the coast near Lázaro Cárdenas, in the state of Michoacán, and further south off the coast of the state of Guerrero.
“The 23 detainees, who were read their rights, as well as the six boats, the alleged drugs and the fuel, were handed over to the competent authorities for their integration into the corresponding investigation,” the Navy added.
The drugs were distributed in six small boats and one of the boats was a submersible, which implied a “complex” action on the part of the sailors, the ministry added.
The largest drug seizure in Mexican history was 23 tons of Colombian cocaine in November 2007. According to the Navy, Friday's announcement represents the largest amount ever seized in a maritime operation.
The latest incursion reported on Friday was carried out “days ago” by surface units backed by a helicopter, the ministry said.
On August 23, authorities reported that they had seized about seven tons of drugs in two separate operations in the same area of the country.
The Mexican Navy, which carries out surveillance operations on a permanent basis, has discovered all types of drug shipments, including one of cocaine stuffed in 217 barrels of chili sauce in 2016.
The United States has pressured Mexico to step up its efforts to stop drug trafficking, while Mexico has pressured the United States to do more to stop the flow of firearms to criminal groups across the border into Mexico.
With Reuters and Agence France-Presse
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