Colombian authorities seized on Tuesday, October 20, close to 8 tonnes of cocaine hidden inside a shipping container at the Port of Cartagena, in an operation described by the Presidency as the largest drug seizure at the Sociedad Portuaria in the past decade.
The operation was carried out by Colombia’s National Police through its Anti-Narcotics Directorate (DIRAN), under the Esmeralda Strategy, according to an official statement from the Presidency. The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), working with Colombian police through its Special Investigative Unit (SIU) and Bogotá office, also confirmed the seizure. The traffickers had concealed the cocaine with powdered unrefined cane sugar – panela – to evade detection law enforcement.
The cocaine was destined for the Netherlands. The DEA estimated the shipment’s street value at US$42 million.
President Abelardo de la Espriella described the seizure as a major victory in the campaign against drug trafficking, praising the National Police for identifying the shipment and intercepting it before it could reach its destination. In a statement, the president said the operation represented “the biggest blow recorded in the last 10 years”.
Accompanied by Minister of Defense General (ret.) Jorge Mora, De la Espriella emphasised the financial impact of the seizure, declaring: “More than 42 billion pesos taken away from criminal finances and more than 19 million doses that will not reach the streets.”
A broader anti-narcotics campaign
The president also issued a direct warning to drug traffickers over their efforts to conceal narcotics and circumvent inspections. “Let this be clear to drug traffickers: it does not matter how you hide the drugs or what methods you use to try to deceive our authorities. We will find you and hit you where it hurts most: your criminal structures and your finances!” he said.
He concluded by recognising the officers involved in the operation: “My recognition to the men and women of our National Police for this decisive result.”
The president also cited the seizure as evidence of the government’s wider anti-narcotics efforts. In a separate statement, he said Colombian security forces had seized 132 tonnes of cocaine during the administration’s first 75 days, assigning the total a value of US$6.108 billion.
“Every dose we prevent from reaching the streets saves lives, and every dollar we take away weakens their criminal structures,” he said, arguing that drug-trafficking revenues fuel multiple forms of violence.
DEA underscores cooperation with Colombia
The DEA confirmed that its SIU and Bogotá office had worked with Colombia’s National Police in the operation. “DEA stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our partners to fight drug trafficking,” the agency said. The case also highlights the methods traffickers may use to disguise cocaine within commercial cargo, as well as the role of coordinated intelligence and inspections in disrupting shipments intended for overseas markets.
The Port of Cartagena on Colombia’s Caribbean coast is an important node in international maritime trade. Intercepting cocaine shipments there can disrupt trafficking networks seeking access to European markets and other international destinations.
The official statements released so far do not identify the shipping company, the precise origin of the cargo, any arrests linked to the seizure, or criminal structures behind the drugs shipment.
