Colombian divers uncovered a substantial cocaine shipment hidden beneath a ship preparing to depart for Europe, the country’s navy announced Tuesday.
According to CBS News, the operation took place at a port on Colombia’s Pacific coast, where navy crew members conducted an underwater inspection of the Europe-bound merchant vessel.
The inspection led to the seizure of more than 450 pounds of suspected cocaine, officials said on social media.
Divers from the Buenaventura Coast Guard Station found seven sealed bags containing the narcotics during the inspection.
The Navy released photos showing divers retrieving the drugs as well as dozens of packages laid out on the dock.
This latest seizure comes just days after the navy confiscated more than seven tons of drugs from two speedboats and a semi-submersible vessel, also in the Pacific Ocean.
Officials shared images and video of that operation, showing packages on board the boats and alleged suspects being pulled from the water after surrendering.
The enforcement actions take place amid heightened tensions between Colombia and the United States.
Last month, the Trump administration imposed sanctions on Colombian President Gustavo Petro and members of his family, accusing him of allowing drug cartels to operate with relative impunity.
The move followed months of disputes over U.S. migrant deportations and strikes on suspected drug vessels off South America’s coast.
In an interview with CBS News in October, Petro accused the U.S. of killing innocent civilians during boat strikes and said such actions violated international law.
“Killing the business’s workers is easy,” he said. “But if you want to be effective, you have to capture the bosses of the business.”
The White House has rejected claims that civilians were killed in the operations.
The Drug Enforcement Administration estimates that about 90% of cocaine entering the United States comes from Colombia, a statistic President Donald Trump has used to criticize Petro for failing to control the country’s drug trade.
“They have insulted me,” Petro told CBS News. “And a lot, but all I can do is be frank.”
The latest interception underscores Colombia’s ongoing efforts to curb drug trafficking, as well as the complex tensions between Bogotá and Washington over U.S. anti-narcotics operations in the region.
