Port of Manzanillo, Colima — On Thursday, Mexican Navy personnel made another at-sea cocaine bust with assistance from the U.S. It is the second large drug bust of tons of cocaine seized by authorities in a week.
A semi-submersible vessel carrying suspected cocaine was seized off the coast of Colima around 7:40 a.m. Thursday. The Mexican Navy reported seizing 179 packages of cocaine and arresting three with intelligence information provided by the U.S. Northern Command and the Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF South).
The interagency is based out of Key West, Florida at the Naval Air Station from where it conducts direction and monitoring operations.
The operation took place more than 400 kilometers off the coast of Colima in the North Pacific Ocean. The operation involved both air and sea personnel, who intercepted the semi-submersial, then boarded the vessel Thursday morning.
It is the third semi-submersial vessel seized by the Marina (Navy of Mexico) since Claudia Sheinbaum became president in October of 2024.
“Through a sea and air operation, the third “LPV” or semi-submersible vessel of the current administration was secured, with three crew members and 179 packages of alleged illicit cargo,” the Navy reported Thursday.
The operation was led by elements of the Mexican Navy acting as Coast Guard, in coordination with the Ministry of National Defense, the Attorney General’s Office, National Guard and the Ministry of Security and Citizen Protection.
“During maritime surveillance and security operations, a Low Profile Vessel (LPV) or semi-submersible was seized with three crew members and approximately 179 packages of varying dimensions representing several tons of possible cocaine.
The official weight, they reported is “pending official weight determination by the competent authorities upon its entry into port.”
“The seizure took place more than 250 nautical miles (approximately 463 kilometers) south-southwest of the port of Manzanillo, Colima. The operation involved an ocean patrol vessel, which carried out the seizure, along with two fixed-wing aircraft, two rotary-wing aircraft and two interceptor patrol boats.
“It should be noted that intelligence information was provided by the U.S. Northern Command and the Joint Interagency Task Force (JIATF South).
The detainees as well as the seized items, will be placed at the disposal of the competent authorities to determine their legal status upon arrival at port.
These actions are part of the maritime surveillance operations carried out by the Mexican Navy to inhibit criminal activity and represent a significant impact on the financial structure of criminal groups, thus preventing Mexican society from being exposed to large quantities of illicit substances.
On February 11, a joint effort between Mexican and U.S. authorities lead to the seizure of several tons of cocaine. The seizure was made after the Mexican Navy spotted a vessel beyond the Exclusive Economic Zone.
In a coordinated effort between the Mexican Navy, U.S. Coast Guard and the Joint Interagency Task Force of the Southern Command, 188 packages of cocaine were seized.
