The Guatemalan authorities seized more than two tons of cocaine in three boats intercepted in the Pacific and captured 11 people, including six Mexicans and two Ecuadorians, the Guatemalan Army and the Prosecutor’s Office reported this Monday, March 11.
The boats were intercepted during different patrols by the national navy, said Army spokesperson Rubén Téllez.
He explained that a preliminary count in one of the vessels totals 1,163 one-kilo “packages” of cocaine.
The first is a boat carrying 38 packages with possible drugs that was intercepted by the National Defense Navy 145 nautical miles off the coast of Escuintla.
Brigadier General Carlos Antonio Medina Juárez reported in a video published by the Guatemalan Army that the interception of the ship occurred off the Guatemalan Pacific coast as part of Operation Squid.
Medina commented that the seizure occurred thanks to the work of international intelligence agencies from Mexico, Colombia and the United States.
He stated that three men were traveling on the boat – named Shalon I – who were guarding the drug shipment.
Téllez, for his part, mentioned that this March 11, the boat docked at the Pacific Naval Command and that there the authorities will determine the identity and nationality of the three detainees.
According to Téllez, there is another interception of a ship, but 400 nautical miles from the Pacific coast and which resulted in the sinking of the boat, but three people were rescued, who say they are of Mexican nationality, and eight packages believed to be that contain drugs.
He stated that several of the packages carried by the boat were recovered from the sea and the vast majority were on the boat.
It is expected that this second intercepted ship could be reaching land next Tuesday, March 12, Téllez said.
Medina said that these types of operations are in compliance with the mandate of the President of the Republic -Bernardo Arévalo- to strengthen the borders and also following the guidelines of the Ministry of National Defense to implement more operations.
He recalled that Operation Squid has been implemented for more than a month against drug trafficking and against all these international structures.
He explained that it is known that these boats had Guatemala as their final destination.
He pointed out that joint operations by land, sea and air have allowed these seizures and also the coordinated work with the anti-drug forces of the National Civil Police and the Ministry of the Interior.
Saturday’s Interception
Last Saturday, a boat of Mexican origin was intercepted in which 27 tulas carrying 945 kilograms of cocaine were located.
The boat was located 600 kilometers from the Pacific coast, where five men were on board, who were detained.
Those captured were identified as Alfredo Aguilar Arce, 42 years old; Francisco Javier Ordoñez Trujillo, 47, and Jairo de los Santos, 39, all three of Mexican nationality.
In addition, Henson David Meran Chunda, 24, and Rolando López Granco, 29, both of Ecuadorian nationality.
International cartels use Central America to transit drugs to Mexico and the United States.
In 2023, Guatemala’s anti-drug forces seized more than three tons of cocaine, almost 50% less than the previous year, according to official data.
According to Washington, 90% of the cocaine that enters US territory passes through Mexico and Central America.
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