A high-speed boat chase led to Colombian authorities confiscating $113 million worth of cocaine — the largest seizure this year — and keeping the equivalent of 8 million doses of the narcotic from hitting the streets.
The Colombian navy chased down a boat near San Andrés Isla after the Colombian Air Force and the Joint Interagency Task Force of the United States Southern Command (JIATFS) located a “suspicious motor vessel” sailing in the Caribbean Sea.
Authorities chased the vessel for several miles while those onboard began “throwing packages into the water,” the Colombian navy announced Tuesday.
The open-top vessel was seen going full speed through the bright blue water as the smaller military vessel chased after it, video posted by the Colombian navy shows.
The military boat eventually intercepted the vessel, finding blue drums and black bags on board, which were taken to shore.
Authorities found 3.3 tons of cocaine was seized, the biggest this year.
“It should be noted that the seized substance is valued in the illegal market at more than 113 million dollars, dealing a hard blow to the finances of these illegal structures that, with their criminal actions, affect global public health,” the navy wrote in a statement.
The 3,355 kilograms were tested by the Technical Investigation Corps and came back positive for cocaine hydrochloride, which is equivalent to 8 million doses.
The Colombian navy posted an overhead photo of the blocks of cocaine, which filled a large concrete area outside of its command center.
The five people on board — one Honduran, one Venezuelan and three Colombians — were arrested and “at the disposal of officials from the Attorney General’s Office,” according to the navy.
“This result is an example of the level of training and commitment of our men and women at sea, who fight transnational crime in seas, rivers, coasts and island areas. My recognition and congratulations to each of them for the success of this great operation,” the navy wrote on X.
It was the second big bust Colombian authorities made this week.
On Monday, police also seized 1.7 tons of cocaine that was hidden in a shipment of avocados Monday, according to William René Salamanca RamÃrez, director general of the National Police of Colombia.
The illegal substance was found at a port in Santa Marta, and the shipment had a final destination of Setúbal, Portugal, RamÃrez said.
Authorities were seen pulling blue blocks of cocaine out from under avocados in crates, a video posted by RamÃrez shows.
It is not uncommon for cocaine shipments to be found off the coast of Colombia, which is the largest producer of the narcotic, according to the US Drug Enforcement Administration.
The South American country produces around 70% to 80% of the world’s cocaine, or $400 million worth of powder each week, the agency said.
