FLASH
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Colombian authorities have seized 225 tonnes of cocaine in the space of six weeks, a global record for any single anti-narcotics operation, finding part of the haul on a "narco submarine" traveling a new drug-trafficking route, in Australia.
In the six-week operation, law enforcement agencies and other organizations from 62 countries intercepted six semi-submersible vessels loaded with cocaine and seized 1,400 tons of the drug in total, including more than 1,000 tons of marijuana, The Guardian reports.
The seizure of 225 tons of cocaine marks a significant blow to Latin American cartel operations, given that the UN estimates 2,700 tons are produced globally each year and Colombia's record for annual seizures was 671 tons seized in 2022.
" This is an important part of the cocaine trade, even when considering the high quantities of the drug that leave the region," said Captain Manuel Rodriguez, director of the Colombian Navy's anti-narcotics unit. " This will prevent thousands of overdose deaths and $8.5 billion from reaching the cartels, which undoubtedly puts a hole in the profits of these criminal organizations."
More than 400 people were arrested in the 45-day crackdown, which also stopped illegal arms shipments and caught migrant smugglers, and involved agencies from the US, EU and Australia.
The Colombian navy has attributed the historic success to unprecedented cooperation between the 62 countries and academic institutions such as the Royal United Services Institute, a UK institute that studies how Colombian and Mexican cartels smuggle undetected drugs.
Partner countries brought together planes, helicopters and frigates to intercept illicit shipments, but more important was the sharing of intelligence, Rodriguez said.
One of the biggest discoveries was the interception of six half-divers carrying cocaine, which revealed a new route used to transport unprecedented amounts of the drug to Australia.
Often called "narco submarines", most of the 10-25 meter vessels sit low in the water, so they are barely visible as they cross the ocean with up to 10 tons of cocaine on board.
One of the semi-submersibles was headed for Australia before it was caught with 5 tonnes of white powder on board 1,250 miles south-west of Clipperton Island, a small uninhabited French atoll in the Pacific. The five people on board were arrested.
"This is a new path that they have opened for semi-divers. The ship was found in the middle of nowhere, about 4,800 km off the Colombian coast heading for Australia and New Zealand," Rodriguez said.
Colombian drug traffickers usually only dare to send 5 to 50 kg to Australia hidden in cargo ships, the maritime official said. It is the first time a semi-submersible has been found sailing out into the ocean, suggesting drug traffickers have recently started using inconspicuous vessels to evade anti-narcotics officials in ports.
Cocaine demand continues to grow in Australia and high prices are prompting drug traffickers to innovate so more of their products make the journey across the globe, the official said.
A kilogram of cocaine sells for up to $240,000 in Australia, three to six times the average price in the US.
The success of the international cooperation showed that authorities can keep up with narcotics in their cat-and-mouse game and could mark a turning point for anti-narcotics operations, Rodriguez said.
There is also hope that artificial intelligence can help them catch more drugs hidden in cargo.
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