Colombian authorities announced Friday the seizure of 14 tons of cocaine at the nation’s principal Pacific port, marking the largest drug confiscation in the country in ten years. The discovery comes at a time of heightened tension between Bogota and Washington over differing approaches to combating narcotics trafficking.
According to the Defense Ministry, a canine unit assisted in uncovering the massive cache of illegal drugs, which had been concealed within a warehouse at the port of Buenaventura. The cocaine was stored in dozens of sacks, each weighing approximately 110 pounds, and had been camouflaged using a mixture containing plaster. The ministry characterized the operation as a historic blow against drug trafficking organizations.
Officials estimate the seized cocaine would have yielded approximately 35 million doses with a street value exceeding $388 million. President Gustavo Petro, whose term concludes in nine months, confirmed this represents the largest seizure by Colombian police forces in the past decade. He emphasized that the operation was conducted without a single fatality.
The seizure occurs against a backdrop of deteriorating relations between the United States and Colombia regarding counter-narcotics strategy. The White House has imposed financial sanctions on President Petro and removed Colombia from its list of allied nations in the war on drugs, citing what it considers insufficient efforts to combat drug trafficking.
The Drug Enforcement Administration reports that approximately 90 percent of cocaine entering the United States originates from Colombia. President Donald Trump has directed criticism at Petro, asserting that the Colombian leader has failed to effectively control drug cartels operating within his borders.
Colombia continues to struggle with record levels of coca cultivation and cocaine production. United Nations data from 2023 indicates the country maintains roughly 625,000 acres under drug cultivation and produces no less than 2,600 tons of cocaine annually. These figures represent the highest levels on record.
The fundamental disagreement between the two administrations centers on methodology. President Petro has publicly criticized Trump’s anti-drug strategy, particularly the authorized bombing of vessels suspected of transporting narcotics in Caribbean and Pacific waters. The Colombian president has characterized these strikes as extrajudicial executions and claims some casualties have been innocent civilians. He maintains these actions violate international law.
“Killing the business’ workers is easy,” Petro stated in October. “But if you want to be effective, you have to capture the bosses of the business.”
The White House has disputed claims that innocent civilians have been killed in the maritime interdiction operations.
President Petro maintains the sanctions against his government are unjustified, arguing that record-breaking seizures have occurred under his administration. He released data Friday suggesting a steady increase in cocaine confiscations over the past six years.
The Buenaventura seizure follows additional recent successes by Colombian authorities. Earlier this week, navy divers discovered more than 450 pounds of cocaine attached to the hull of a vessel preparing to depart for Europe. Days before that operation, the navy announced the confiscation of over seven tons of drugs from two speedboats.
The question remains whether these enforcement successes will be sufficient to satisfy Washington’s expectations or whether the fundamental policy differences between the two governments will continue to strain this historically important bilateral relationship.
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