Global coalition seizes 145.3 tons of cocaine — Colombia’s navy

FILE PHOTO: Cocaine packages are seen after the seizure of a semi submersible sea vessel loaded with cocaine hydrochloride in Tumaco, Colombia November 4, 2021. Courtesy of Colombian Navy/Handout via REUTERS

BOGOTA — Military and police authorities from more than 40 countries across Europe and the Americas confiscated 145.3 tons of cocaine in the eighth phase of Operation Orion, a multinational naval operation against drug trafficking, Colombia’s navy said on Monday.

The figure represents the highest amount of cocaine seized during the operation so far.

Some 575 people of different nationalities were captured during the campaign, which ran between October and November, Colombia’s navy said, adding that 49 vessels were immobilized, as well as six submarines and three planes.

The operation also confiscated 66 tons of marijuana.

Since Operation Orion was launched in 2018, the combined effort has seized more than 545 tons of cocaine and 224 tons of marijuana, according to Colombia’s navy.

Despite decades of fighting drug trafficking, Colombia remains a top global producer of cocaine and faces constant pressure from the United States to reduce coca crops, the drug’s main ingredient, as well as production of cocaine.

Last year, Colombia’s cocaine production capacity rose 7.9% to 1,010 tons, according to the U.S. White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Aside from the ELN, ex-members of the demobilized FARC guerrillas who reject a 2016 peace deal are involved in drug trafficking, as well as criminal gangs, according to security sources.

Argentina, Belize, France and Suriname, among others, took part in the eighth phase of Operation Orion.