Uruguay police seize 400kg of cocaine and coca paste

Uruguayan authorities have seized 300 kilograms of cocaine and 100 kilograms of coca paste during a police operation known as ‘Polux’. The operation, which resulted from an investigation launched in February, targeted criminal activity in the departments of Artigas and Salto.

During the operation, police observed a small plane dropping bundles over a rural area near Baltasar Brum in Artigas. Law enforcement intercepted three vehicles and conducted 11 simultaneous raids in Salto, leading to the arrest of seven individuals. The group is led by a 40-year-old man with a prior conviction for large-scale cocaine trafficking in 2019. Interior Minister Carlos Negro noted that the leader reportedly has links to Sebastián Marset.

The seized drugs, originating from Peru, have an estimated value of US$3 million in the Uruguayan market and US$14 million in Europe. Authorities believe the cocaine was intended for export, while the coca paste was meant for domestic consumption.