Colombia seizes 7.1 tons of cocaine; 11 held
Colombia’s navy said Wednesday it seized about 7.1 tons of cocaine in two Caribbean operations—one 90 nautical miles off Barranquilla and another in the Gulf of Morrosquillo—arresting 11 suspects without injuries and valuing the haul at more than $340 million. The announcement comes as the U.S. continues lethal maritime strikes on suspected drug‑running boats, including a Thursday Pacific strike that killed four, amid rising scrutiny over a Sept. 2 Caribbean strike.
📌 Key Facts
- Seized approximately 7.1 tons of cocaine in two interdictions in the Caribbean Sea
- Operations located 90 nm off Barranquilla and in the Gulf of Morrosquillo
- 11 suspects arrested unharmed: 8 Colombians, 2 Venezuelans, 1 Jamaican
- Estimated value of seized drugs exceeds $340 million
- Context: U.S. has conducted at least 22 maritime strikes since September, with at least 87 killed
📊 Relevant Data
Cultivation of coca bush in Colombia increased by 10 per cent in 2023 to 253,000 hectares, while potential cocaine production reached 2,664 tons.
Colombia: Potential cocaine production increased by 53 per cent in ... — UNODC
As of August 28, 2025, Joint Interagency Task Force South has supported the disruption of 402.7 metric tons of cocaine.
Cocaine interdiction record broken, and the year isn't over! — jiatf-s
From 2022 to 2023, rates increased for deaths involving cocaine by 4.9% (from 8.2 to 8.6 per 100,000 population) in the United States.
Global cocaine production reached an unprecedented 3,708 tons in 2023, a 34% increase from the previous year.
World Drug Report 2025 — ZIGRAM
Although the rate of cocaine use among the African American population is not significantly higher than the general population, African Americans have higher rates of crack cocaine use; African Americans comprise about 13% of the U.S. population but are overrepresented in drug-related statistics.
Substance Abuse Statistics for African Americans — American Addiction Centers