Mexico City, Q.R. — The Secretary of the Navy of Mexico reports a historical year of narcotic seizures and arrests. More than 48 tons of cocaine and 55 tons of marijuana were seized by sea, air and land operations.
During 2023, naval personnel, with the support of ships and aircraft of the Mexican Navy, secured 48,147 tons of cocaine at sea and through port and airport operations. This amount represents 85.3% of the total insured in relation to the 56.41 tons recorded seized from 2019 to 2022.
Most of the said narcotic was transported aboard 155 smaller vessels, including three semi-submersible vessels. The 2023 seizures are considered a historical record compared to previous years.
In a statement, the Secretary of the Navy says the increase in narcotic seizures was the product of increased naval operations engaged at sea, in the air and on land in support of security and combating drug trafficking due to the current administration.
Of the 48 tons of cocaine seized, 251 kilograms correspond to seizures made by naval personnel working in the field of Port Security and Strategy to strengthen Customs and Ports.
Another 8 kilos of seized cocaine corresponds to seizures made by naval personnel working within the framework of the Comprehensive Airport Security Strategy, and in coordination with the Customs of the Mexico City International Airport (AICM).
“Regarding the terrestrial environment, in 2023, naval personnel, with the support of aircraft from the Mexican Navy, secured 604,183 tons of chemical precursors, a figure that represents 16.2 times more than the 37,148 tons recorded in the last four years.
“Also, 367,239 tons of methamphetamine were seized which represents 9.61 times more than the 38,176 tons seized from 2019 to 2022. These narcotics wer located in 189 clandestine laboratories for the production of synthetic drugs in the states of Durango and Sinaloa, as well as, during various land, port and airport operations in national territory.
Of the narcotics seized, 274.8 kilograms of methamphetamine correspond to seizures made by naval personnel working within the framework of the Comprehensive Airport Security Strategy, and in coordination with AICM Customs, and 15.42 tons of methamphetamine correspond to assurances made by naval personnel who work in the field of Port Security and Strategy to strengthen Customs and Ports,” the agency said.
Also during 2023, a total of 101.8 tons of miscellaneous cargo contaminated with cocaine and 55 tons of miscellaneous cargo contaminated with methamphetamine were seized in different ports of the country, managing to inhibit its commercialization and transfer to its final destinations.
Regarding marijuana seizures, naval personnel obtained a total of 55,915 tons, a figure that represents 1.4 times more than the 39,675 tons seized during the previous four years.
Regarding the location of marijuana plantations, naval personnel managed to secure and destroy in different states of the country a total of 10 million 463 thousand 449 plants, located in 159 plantations; which represents 4.12 times more than the number of plants and 2.2 times more than the number of plantations, in relation to the 2 million 537 thousand 691 plants in 72 plantations destroyed in the previous four years.
As a result of the aforementioned operations, the arrest of 2,375 violators of the law in flagrante delicto and/or possession of illicit material was achieved.
