By Zoila Palma: Colombia’s navy says it has seized more than 7 tons of cocaine in two major maritime operations in the Caribbean, arresting 11 people without injuries as U.S. forces continue carrying out lethal strikes on suspected drug-running vessels in the region.
The interdictions, announced Wednesday, occurred about 90 nautical miles off Barranquilla and roughly 70 miles farther south in the Gulf of Morrosquillo. Authorities valued the confiscated narcotics at more than $340 million and said the detainees — eight Colombians, two Venezuelans and one Jamaican — were taken into custody “without affecting their integrity or their lives.”
The operations come amid growing tension over the U.S. military’s aggressive anti-narcotics campaign, which has included at least 22 strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific since September, resulting in at least 87 deaths, CBS reports.
Another U.S. strike announced Thursday killed four people, prompting renewed criticism from Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has accused Washington of violating international law and causing civilian casualties.
His concerns intensified after revelations that a September 2 strike in the Caribbean involved two missiles, with the second reportedly fired as survivors attempted to climb back onto their damaged vessel.
The controversy escalated this week as the family of a Colombian man killed in an earlier U.S. strike filed a complaint with a human rights watchdog, alleging extrajudicial execution.
The White House has rejected claims of unlawful conduct, and President Donald Trump continues to defend the operations as essential to dismantling drug-trafficking networks.
The post International News: Colombia seizes 7 tons of cocaine in major operations appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
By Zoila Palma: Colombia’s navy says it has seized more than 7 tons of cocaine in two major maritime operations in the Caribbean, arresting 11 people without injuries as U.S. forces continue carrying out lethal strikes on suspected drug-running vessels in the region. The interdictions, announced Wednesday, occurred about 90 nautical miles off Barranquilla and
The post International News: Colombia seizes 7 tons of cocaine in major operations appeared first on Belize News and Opinion on www.breakingbelizenews.com.
