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More than 5.6 tons of cocaine: Mexico makes largest ‘single event’ drug seizure in years

Manzanillo, Colima — Naval personnel have seized approximately 7.2 tons of cocaine off the Pacific Coast of Mexico in two drug busts. The largest was off the coast of the country’s popular tourist city of Manzanillo last week.

Naval personnel seized approximately 5.6 tons of cocaine southwest of Manzanillo aboard the ARM vessel “Godínez” (PO-132). The seizure was made with the support of a Panther helicopter.

During the operation, three smaller vessels with three outboard motors each and 126 packages with an approximate weight of 5.6 tons of alleged cocaine were seized. In a statement the Secretary of the Navy said “it represents the largest seizure in a single event during the current administration.”

During that operation, 1,100 liters of fuel was also found onboard as well as 15 people, all of whom were arrested.

During a second operation last week, naval personnel, with the support of the interceptor patrol vessel ARM “Regulus” (PI-1115), a Defender-type vessel and a Panther-type helicopter, seized 32 buoyed packages adrift.

The packages, which contained cocaine, weighed approximately 1.6 tons. During their at-sea search, they also located a small vessel with three outboard motors southwest of Lázaro Cárdenas, Michoacán.