More than 13 tons of drugs bound for the US have been seized by Panamanian authorities from a Pacific ferry
Panamanian authorities announced on Tuesday (November 11th) that they had seized more than 13 tons of drugs from a Pacific ferry bound for the US, as Washington steps up military anti-drug operations in Latin America.
PHOTO: Panama Prosecutor's Office
Prosecutor Julio Villareal told reporters that approximately 13.2 tons of drugs, “in this case cocaine“, were confiscated on Monday, and 10 people were arrested, writes CBS News.
He stated that this is one of the largest catches of this kind in Panamanian waters so far.
In a social media post, the prosecutor's office released several images of the seized drugs, noting that 11,562 packages were seized in total.
Donald Trump justified the massive deployment of troops through his campaign of “war on drugs”aimed at combating drug trafficking through Caribbean and Pacific waters.
As part of this operation, aerial bombings of suspicious boats have killed at least 76 people in South American waters since September.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, “with more than 4,000 sailors and dozens of tactical aircraft on board”, will “strengthens US ability to detect, monitor and disrupt illegal activities” from the region.
“These forces will enhance and supplement existing capabilities to combat drug trafficking and disrupt transnational criminal organizations,” Parnell added.
