Colombian naval divers recovered more than 450 pounds of suspected cocaine hidden beneath a Europe‑bound merchant ship during an inspection at a Pacific port. The drugs were found in seven sealed bags and taken ashore for cataloguing and testing. The seizure follows an earlier navy operation that netted over seven tons of drugs and comes amid growing tensions between Colombia and the United States over counter‑narcotics policy and sanctions.
Colombian Divers Recover Over 450 Pounds of Cocaine Hidden Beneath Europe‑Bound Ship
Colombian naval divers recovered more than 450 pounds of suspected cocaine hidden beneath a Europe‑bound merchant ship during an inspection at a Pacific port. The drugs were found in seven sealed bags and taken ashore for cataloguing and testing. The seizure follows an earlier navy operation that netted over seven tons of drugs and comes amid growing tensions between Colombia and the United States over counter‑narcotics policy and sanctions.
11:31 PM, 11/19/2025Security
Colombian naval divers recovered more than 450 pounds (over 200 kilograms) of suspected cocaine concealed beneath a merchant vessel that was preparing to sail for Europe, the navy reported.
Divers from the Buenaventura Coast Guard Station located seven sealed, "suspicious bags" during an underwater inspection at a Pacific coast port. The team brought the bundles to the surface, and officials published photos showing divers retrieving the packages and dozens of bundles laid out on the dock for cataloguing and evidence processing.
The seizure follows a separate naval operation days earlier in which authorities said they confiscated over seven tons of drugs from two speedboats and a semi‑submersible vessel operating in the Pacific. Images and video released by officials from that operation showed narcotics packages aboard a vessel and alleged suspects being detained and pulled from the water.
The latest bust comes amid heightened tensions between Colombia and the United States over counter‑narcotics tactics and related sanctions. U.S. authorities recently announced sanctions on President Gustavo Petro and some family members, accusing them of allowing drug cartels to flourish; Colombian officials have rejected those allegations.
President Petro has also criticized U.S. strikes on suspected drug boats, saying some casualties may have been civilians and arguing that such actions risk violating international law. U.S. officials deny that strikes killed innocent people.
"Killing the business' workers is easy," Petro said. "But if you want to be effective, you have to capture the bosses of the business."
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration estimates that roughly 90% of the cocaine reaching the United States originates in Colombia, highlighting the international dimension of the trafficking problem.
Authorities said forensic testing will be performed to confirm the seized substances and that investigations will continue into how the narcotics were loaded and who was responsible. The ship, its crew and the broader supply chain are expected to be examined as part of the inquiry.