The Colombian Navy recovered 116 packages (115.7 kg) of cocaine after a speedboat crew dumped the drugs into the Pacific while fleeing an interception 55 nautical miles off the coast. The haul, estimated at about 289,000 doses and valued near $5.6 million, was announced the same day President Gustavo Petro met President Trump in Washington. The incident comes amid heightened U.S.-Colombia tensions over rising cocaine production and a U.S. campaign targeting suspected drug boats.
Speedboat Crew Jettisons 115.7 kg Of Cocaine Into Pacific During Navy Chase — Seizure Announced As Petro Meets Trump
The crew of a speedboat tossed more than 100 packages of cocaine into the Pacific Ocean while fleeing the Colombian navy, authorities said Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026. / Credit: Colombia Navy(Colombia Navy)
The Colombian Navy said it recovered 116 packages containing a total of 115.7 kilograms of cocaine after the crew of a high-speed “go-fast” vessel tossed the narcotics into the Pacific while fleeing an interception.
The operation took place about 55 nautical miles off Colombia’s Pacific coast during an international anti-trafficking patrol. As naval patrols closed in, those aboard the speedboat abandoned the packages; officers subsequently retrieved the floating bales from the water.
Authorities’ assessment: The navy estimated the haul equaled roughly 289,000 doses with a street value near $5.6 million. Officials released images showing rectangular packages bobbing in the sea and later recovered during the operation.
Context and Diplomatic Backdrop
The seizure was announced the same day Colombian President Gustavo Petro met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, a meeting held amid increasing U.S. pressure on Colombia to curb cocaine production and trafficking.
Relations between Washington and Bogotá have been strained. The U.S. has accused Colombia of failing to contain a surge in cocaine output; last year U.S. officials imposed sanctions on Petro and family members and removed Colombia from a list of allies in the war on drugs. The announcements come while the U.S. has continued strikes against suspected drug-ferrying vessels in the Pacific and Caribbean — strikes that, according to available counts, have killed more than 100 people since they began in September.
Recent Colombian Seizures
Colombia has also reported several major busts in recent months, underscoring active enforcement: last month the navy said it seized more than two tons of cocaine after a chase in the South Pacific, and in November authorities announced the country’s largest cocaine seizure in a decade — about 14 tons at a main Pacific port.
Note: All figures and events are based on statements from the Colombian Navy and public reporting. Numbers such as casualties from U.S. strikes reflect available counts and may be subject to revision.
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