Colombia seizes 7.6 tonnes of cocaine hidden in sugar shipment
Colombian police have seized 7.6 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a shipment of powdered cane sugar at the port of Cartagena, in what President Abelardo De La Espriella described as the area's largest drug seizure in a decade.
Footage released by the National Police on Tuesday showed sniffer dogs searching sacks stacked on wooden pallets as officers inspected packages and cardboard boxes.
The operation was conducted by the National Police's Anti-Narcotics Directorate (DIRAN) under the Esmeralda Strategy.
Authorities said traffickers had mixed the cocaine with powdered panela, an unrefined cane sugar product, to evade security checks.
President De La Espriella said the seizure dealt a financial blow of more than 42 billion Colombian pesos, approximately $13.2 million, to criminal organisations and prevented over 19 million doses of cocaine from reaching the streets.
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“There will be no let-up in the fight against narco-terrorism!” he declared, warning traffickers that authorities would continue targeting their operations and finances.
The president also praised the officers involved, describing the seizure as a significant victory against organised drug trafficking.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
