The Colombian Navy seized a shipment of cocaine valued at more than US$56 million in waters of the Pacific Ocean, in an operation that intercepted two vessels used to transport the narcotic and led to the capture of five people linked to international drug trafficking.
The operation was carried out by units of the Pacific Naval Force during patrols and intelligence work that detected suspicious movements in the maritime area and ended with several people detained.
According to authorities, the action represents a significant blow to the finances of drug trafficking organizations that use Colombia’s Pacific coastline as one of their main routes for sending drugs to Central America and other international destinations.
The seizure prevented more than one ton of cocaine hydrochloride from reaching illegal markets, where it would have been distributed in thousands of doses.
Colombia seizes US$56 million worth of cocaine in the Pacific
The operation began when a Navy vessel detected a boat navigating suspiciously in the Colombian Pacific using radar systems. After confirming the alert, naval units headed to the indicated location to carry out a maritime interdiction and stop the motorboat.
Upon boarding the vessel, officers found several packages containing cocaine hydrochloride inside. The shipment was distributed in sacks and, according to the preliminary report, weighed 234.7 kilograms. In addition to the narcotic, authorities found fuel and other elements used for navigation on the high seas, indicating that the boat was preparing for a long journey.
While this procedure was underway, coast guard units received additional information from naval intelligence about another vessel moving in the general area of the central Pacific. With this information, a second operation was launched that made it possible to locate and stop the suspicious boat.
In this case, the motorboat was crewed by three people. During the inspection, officers found a much larger shipment: nearly 987 kilograms of cocaine, as well as communication equipment that was allegedly used to coordinate the route of the illegal trafficking operation.
Taken together, the two operations resulted in the seizure of more than one ton of cocaine hydrochloride that, according to official estimates, would have a value exceeding US$56 million on the international market. The shipment was intended to strengthen drug trafficking networks operating in the Pacific that use fast vessels to transport the drug to other countries.
Rear Admiral Camilo Gutiérrez, commander of the Pacific Naval Force, said these operations are part of the Navy’s ongoing maritime interdiction strategy aimed at stopping the flow of narcotics from Colombia’s coasts.
The officer explained that the deployment of radar systems, naval intelligence and constant patrols has made it possible to detect suspicious movements at sea and respond quickly to intercept vessels used by traffickers.
The five people captured during the operations were placed at the disposal of the competent authorities, while the seized drugs were transferred under chain of custody for analysis and subsequent destruction.
MORE THAN ONE TON OF COCAINE SEIZED IN THE PACIFIC
The @ArmadaColombia dealt a major blow to drug trafficking in the central Pacific, intercepting two vessels and preventing more than $56 million from strengthening criminal organizations.
In two operations guided by naval… pic.twitter.com/8cgwRC1Nzb
— Mindefensa (@mindefensa) March 14, 2026
The Pacific, a key corridor for drug trafficking
Colombia’s Pacific coastline has become one of the main corridors used by criminal organizations to transport cocaine. The geography of the region, characterized by extensive coastal areas, rivers and jungles, facilitates the departure of vessels seeking to evade authorities’ controls.
In many cases, traffickers use speedboats or adapted vessels to travel long distances across the ocean before carrying out transfers to other ships or reaching distribution points in Central America.
Naval authorities have intensified operations in this area due to the increase in attempts to ship drugs by sea. According to official reports, so far in 2026 the Navy has seized around 100 tons of narcotics in the Colombian Pacific, reflecting the scale of trafficking moving along this route.
Military forces say they will continue strengthening controls and surveillance at sea with the aim of stopping the activities of criminal networks and reducing the impact of drug trafficking in the region. Meanwhile, maritime interdiction operations remain one of the State’s main tools to prevent shipments of cocaine from leaving Colombia’s coasts for international markets.