TAPACHULA, Chiapas — The Mexican Navy (Semar) intercepted a vessel carrying approximately 1.5 metric tons of cocaine off the coast of Chiapas, federal authorities announced. The maritime operation resulted in the arrest of five crew members.
Omar García Harfuch, Secretary of Security and Protection of Citizens, confirmed the seizure via social media, highlighting that the interdiction prevented over three million doses of narcotics from reaching streets. Officials estimated the financial impact on organized crime at more than 335 million Mexican pesos.
The operation forms part of continuous air and maritime surveillance efforts deployed by federal forces in the Mexican Pacific. While the identities and nationalities of the five detainees have not been publicly disclosed, all individuals and seized materials were turned over to federal prosecutors for legal processing.
García Harfuch noted that this interdiction brings total sea-based cocaine seizures under the current federal administration to more than 78 metric tons, reflecting a sustained counter-narcotics strategy targeting cartel supply routes in international waters.
The Chiapas coastline remains a heavily monitored corridor for illicit maritime trafficking. This latest enforcement action follows similar operations in the region. On July 1, naval forces seized 1.2 tons of cocaine and detained eight individuals across two separate actions off San José El Hueyate in the municipality of Mazatán. Earlier in May, another 1.5-ton cocaine shipment was intercepted in Pacific waters off Chiapas, resulting in five arrests.
Federal authorities reiterated that air and sea patrols will remain active along the southern Pacific coast to disrupt maritime smuggling routes and prevent illegal narcotics from entering the country.
Source: OEM
