Mexico makes largest-ever drug bust, navy seizes over 8 tonnes of narcotics

The Mexican navy has made one of the biggest drug busts ever, seizing over eight tonnes of narcotics off the country’s southwestern Pacific coast.

A statement from the Navy’s office said on Friday, “Navy personnel seized 8,361 kilograms of illicit cargo, which represents the largest amount of drugs seized in a maritime operation, unprecedented in history.”

Twenty-three people have also been arrested in connection to the case which the Navy cracked in an operation.

What did the Navy seize?

Although the type of the seized drugs was not specified, the Navy said they were valued at 2.099 billion pesos (about $105 million).

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The latest raid reported on Friday was carried out “days ago” by surface units backed by a helicopter.

Some 8,700 liters of fuel, another of the illicit trades controlled by drug cartels, were also found on the raided vessels.

“The 23 detainees, who were read their rights, as well as the six boats, the presumed drugs and the fuel were handed over to the competent authorities for integration into the corresponding investigation,” the navy added.

Mexico’s dark history of drug peddling

The country has a troubling history involving drug cartels that have virtual control over Mexican society.

Across Mexico, more than 450,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands have gone missing in a spiral of violence since the government deployed the army to combat drug trafficking in 2006.

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The biggest drug bust in Mexico’s history occurred in 2007 when authorities seized 23 tonnes of Colombian cocaine.

The United States has urged Mexico to intensify its efforts to combat drug trafficking, while Mexico has called on the US to take stronger measures to prevent the flow of firearms to criminal organizations across the border into Mexico.

With inputs from agencies