US and Colombia seize 2.2 tons of cocaine in joint high-seas operation

A joint maritime operation between the United States and Colombia has resulted in the seizure of 2,222 kilograms of cocaine. Three individuals suspected of drug trafficking were apprehended aboard a high-speed boat during the coordinated effort in international waters.

The operation was executed by the Colombian Navy with support from a patrol aircraft of the U.S. Southern Command. U.S. forces detected the vessel traversing a known drug trafficking route, and an American aircraft subsequently established its position. The Colombian Navy then deployed several vessels to pursue and intercept the speedboat, leading to the discovery of the substantial cocaine shipment and the arrest of its three occupants.

This latest interdiction adds to a series of successful joint operations conducted by the U.S. and Colombia. Since May, combined efforts have intercepted approximately 6.26 tons of cocaine in the eastern Pacific. The U.S. Southern Command has been actively engaged in campaigns like "Lanza del Sur," targeting suspected drug-carrying vessels.

According to Insight Crime, the Southern Command has destroyed 66 speedboats and reported 221 suspected traffickers deceased during operations between September 2025 and July 29 of the current year. The ongoing collaboration underscores the shared commitment of both nations to combat drug trafficking in the region.