Colombia Navy Seizes 7.1 Tons of Cocaine, Arrests 11 in Caribbean

In a significant operation, the Colombia Navy seized 7.1 tons of cocaine from boats in the Caribbean. This seizure took place during two separate missions, with authorities making the announcement via social media on Wednesday. The cocaine, valued at over $340 million, was confiscated approximately 90 nautical miles from Barranquilla, a prominent city on Colombia’s northern coast, and about 70 miles further south in the Gulf of Morrosquillo.

Details of the Operation

During these operations, Colombian authorities arrested 11 individuals. The arrested included eight Colombians, two Venezuelans, and one Jamaican. These arrests were made without any harm to the detainees, as confirmed by the Navy’s statements.

Images and Evidence

• Authorities released images showing the confiscated cocaine and the involved boats.
• Photos depicted officers standing beside the bricks of narcotics, highlighting the scale of the seizure.

U.S. Strikes in the Region

These seizures align with a broader context of U.S. military activity against drug trafficking in the Caribbean. Colombian President Gustavo Petro has called for an end to U.S. strikes targeting drug-carrying vessels in the region. Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced a strike on Thursday in the Pacific Ocean that reportedly resulted in four fatalities.

Recent Military Actions

• Since September, the U.S. has conducted at least 22 operations against vessels in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
• These actions have reportedly resulted in at least 87 deaths, raising concerns over the impact on civilians.

Controversy surrounds a particular strike that occurred on September 2, which resulted in 11 deaths. Reports suggest that this strike involved two missiles aimed at a vessel, with accusations of a potential war crime being raised by some lawmakers. President Petro has voiced concerns about civilian casualties, asserting that these strikes may violate international law. The White House has denied these claims, defending the military actions as necessary measures in the fight against drug trafficking organizations.

Family members of victims, including a Colombian man killed in a strike, have lodged complaints with human rights organizations, labeling these incidents as extrajudicial killings.