SAN SALVADOR – The Naval Force of El Salvador intercepted on November 14 a low-profile submarine-type vessel, known as LPV, with 3.1 tons of cocaine valued at 77 million dollars.
The seizure occurred 470 nautical miles from the port of Acajutla, in western El Salvador.
According to the authorities, the submarine was driven by three Ecuadorians who sank the boat so as not to be discovered, but the cargo was recovered by the military.
“Our troops managed to recover the drug so that it cannot be rescued later by the drug trafficker,” Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele posted on his Twitter account.
According to authorities, this seizure is the largest this year. In 2021, El Salvador seized almost 12 tons of cocaine, and in 2020, 2.9 tons.
So far this year, the seized drug exceeds 300 million dollars.
The increase in drug seizures goes hand in hand with the collaboration of the United States on the issue.
According to a US State Department report, increased patrols drove traffickers away from the Salvadoran Pacific two years ago. Today, with the new maritime seizures, the traffickers seem to have gotten back on track.
The United States has two anti-drug monitoring centers in Latin America, one in El Salvador and the other in Aruba-Curaçao.
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