Colombian navy seizes 7 tons of cocaine, arrests 11 unharmed

Colombia's navy reported the seizure of more than 7 tons of cocaine from vessels in the Caribbean in the past few days, as the U.S. continues targeting suspected drug-trafficking boats in the region.

The navy announced on social media that approximately 7.1 tons of cocaine were captured during two separate operations. The first interception took place roughly 90 nautical miles from Barranquilla, a northern Colombian port city, while the second occurred about 70 miles south in the Gulf of Morrosquillo.

The confiscated narcotics are valued at over $340 million. Authorities arrested 11 individualseight Colombians, two Venezuelans, and one Jamaicanreportedly without any harm coming to them, the navy stated.

Images released by the authorities show the vessels involved and stacks of the seized cocaine displayed alongside officers and the detained suspects.

These seizures occur amid Colombian President Gustavo Petro's calls for the United States to halt military strikes targeting alleged drug-carrying boats. The Pentagon announced another strike in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, which reportedly resulted in four deaths.

Since September, U.S. forces have carried out at least 22 strikes against vessels in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean, allegedly involved in drug trafficking, resulting in at least 87 fatalities. Controversy has grown over the September 2 Caribbean strike, which killed 11 people after the boat was hit by two missiles, raising questions about potential violations of international law.

President Petro has asserted that some victims of the strikes were innocent civilians, a claim denied by the White House, which maintains that the actions are part of lawful anti-drug operations. Families of victims have filed complaints with human rights organizations, describing some deaths as extrajudicial.

Author: Maya Henderson