The Mexican Navy intercepted a sophisticated drug-running vessel carrying 3.6 tons of cocaine off the Pacific coast Tuesday, authorities reported, marking a significant blow to maritime trafficking operations in the region.
The operation, conducted approximately 153 miles (246 kilometers) from Acapulco, resulted in the seizure of 102 packages containing cocaine bricks and the arrest of nine crew members, including six foreign nationals. Navy officials did not disclose the nationalities of the foreign suspects, though similar vessels intercepted in Mexican waters have typically carried Colombian or Venezuelan crew members.
The intercepted craft was described as a “go-fast boat” equipped with dual outboard motors and modified with low-profile, semi-submersible features designed to evade detection. Such vessels are commonly used to transport drugs from South American production sites to North American markets via Pacific or Caribbean routes.
“This operation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to disrupting maritime drug trafficking routes,” a naval spokesperson said. The seizure highlights the continued use of Mexico’s Pacific coast as a major transit corridor for South American cocaine destined for U.S. markets.
Naval authorities did not provide the estimated street value of the seized cocaine but emphasized the significance of the operation in ongoing efforts to combat international drug trafficking organizations operating in Mexican waters.
