Latin American drug interdiction

Timeline

1. about 22 hours ago

   [CRIME] 16 sources

   Drug and contraband busts sweep Argentina, Bolivia, Gibraltar and beyond

   Police and customs in Argentina, Bolivia, Gibraltar, the Dominican Republic, the Philippines and Uruguay seized large cocaine shipments, liquid cocaine, and millions of contraband cigarettes in coordinated bust

2. 14 days ago

   [CRIME] 2 sources

   Luxembourg Airport Sees Surge in Drug Seizures, 500kg Cocaine Hidden in Starch

   Luxembourg Airport seized almost 3.5 t of drugs in 2025, including 500 kg of cocaine hidden in starch, highlighting its role as a transit hub for South‑American narcotics.

3. 14 days ago

   [CRIME] 2 sources

   Brazil police detain ex‑assembly candidate and probe death of Bolivian woman in drug trafficking cases

   Brazilian police arrested ex‑assembly candidate Andrea P. with suspected drug packages and are investigating the death of Bolivian woman Dayana G. A., who was found dead with a kilo of cocaine in her stomach.

4. 18 days ago

   [CRIME] 9 sources

   Bolivia’s ‘Narco Maletas’ Scandal Involves Seven Detainees and Ongoing Parliamentary Probe

   Seven detainees remain in Bolivia’s “narco maletas” drug‑smuggling case as a parliamentary commission examines evidence linking multiple officials and the fate of 32 suspect suitcases.

5. 20 days ago

   [CRIME] 3 sources

   Colombian drug courier detained in Nacimiento, Chile

   Chilean police arrested a Colombian drug courier in Nacimiento after finding cocaine and cash in a taxi, prompting charges for drug trafficking and immigration violations.

6. 20 days ago

   [CRIME] 2 sources

   Cocaine Route Disputes Fuel Urban Violence Across Latin America

   Cocaine route disputes and gang fragmentation drive urban violence in Latin America, with the worst cities in Ecuador, Mexico and Brazil, while experts call for root‑cause policies.

7. 22 days ago

   [CRIME] 27 sources

   Ecuador seizes 1.7 tonnes of cocaine in massive container bust

   Ecuador police seized 1.7 tonnes of cocaine bound for Denmark, while related operations across South America netted tonnes of narcotics, dozens of arrests and multiple drug storage busts.

8. 23 days ago

   [CRIME] 5 sources

   Costa Rica Coast Guard seizes two tonnes of cocaine near Bahía Ballena

   Costa Rica’s Coast Guard seized ~2 tonnes of cocaine off Bahía Ballena after intel from Colombia and US support, arresting three crew members.

9. 24 days ago

   [CRIME] 2 sources

   Cocaine seizure of over a ton at Lázaro Cárdenas port in Mexico

   Mexican authorities seized about 1.2 tonnes of cocaine at Lázaro Cárdenas port, valued over 250 million pesos, preventing millions of doses from reaching streets.

10. 24 days ago

    [CRIME] 6 sources

    El Salvador and Mexico seize record tons of cocaine and ketamine in joint drug busts

    El Salvador intercepted two drug‑smuggling submarines, seizing 6.68 t of cocaine and ten suspects; Mexico seized 1.187 t of cocaine on a merchant ship in Michoacán and Mexican customs found 2.66 kg of ketamine

11. 24 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Bolivian police seize cocaine labs and illegal Cytotec pills in coordinated raids

    Bolivian police dismantled four mobile cocaine labs in Villa Tunari and seized 156 illegal Cytotec tablets, arresting three suspects.

12. 25 days ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources

    Colombian police seize cocaine base and chemical precursor in separate raids

    Colombian police arrested suspects and seized 489 g of cocaine base in Atlántico and 2 tonnes of potassium permanganate in Nariño, disrupting drug operations.

13. 25 days ago

    [CRIME] 19 sources

    Spain and Netherlands seize near‑ton of MDMA bound for South America

    Spain and the Netherlands seized 947 kg of MDMA, the largest EU haul, thwarting a planned shipment via a crane from Antwerp to Ghana for cocaine exchange and South‑American distribution.

14. 28 days ago

    [CRIME] 4 sources

    Colombian anti‑drug forces seize massive cocaine lab in Nariño

    Colombian anti‑drug forces, with U.S. and Interpol assistance, seized a cocaine lab in Nariño, confiscating 1,800 kg of cocaine, 32,580 gal in production and disrupting the Comuneros del Sur network.

15. 28 days ago

    [CRIME] 4 sources

    Costa Rica seizes first liquid cocaine shipment in Pacific waters

    Costa Rica, with Colombian naval help, seized its first liquid‑cocaine shipment – about 560 kg – off Golfito, detaining four crew members in an unprecedented maritime drug bust.

16. 29 days ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Europe‑targeted cocaine seizures: 1.08 tonnes in Ecuador bound for UK, 18 kg in Spain

    Ecuador seized 1.08 tonnes of cocaine bound for the UK, while Spain arrested a man with 18 kg of cocaine in Mallorca, highlighting European drug‑trafficking interceptions.

17. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 19 sources

    Cocaine Seizures Across Latin America Total Over 3 Tonnes in July 2026

    In early July 2026 authorities in Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Colombia and Argentina seized over 3 tonnes of cocaine in ports, at sea, airports and hidden shipments, disrupting major trafficking operations.

18. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources

    Colombian army destroys four coca processing labs in Nariño

    The Colombian Army’s Fuerza de Tarea Hércules destroyed four coca labs in Nariño’s Roberto Payán, El Charco and Tumaco, seizing over 115 million pesos and targeting GAO‑r factions.

19. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 36 sources

    UNODC flags new cocaine routes as Brazil steps up drug and illegal‑mining crackdowns

    UNODC links Portugal to a new maritime cocaine route, notes a rise in Colombian coca farms, and Brazil intensifies crackdowns on drug trafficking, illegal vaping, aerial smuggling and illegal gold mining.

20. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 4 sources

    El Salvador police seize marijuana shipments at Ahuachapán border and in San Salvador area

    El Salvador police arrested multiple suspects and seized marijuana, cash and drug‑related equipment in border and city raids, including a hidden shipment at Ahuachapán’s Las Chinamas checkpoint.

21. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources

    Cuban Customs Detects Passenger Swallowing 25 Drug Capsules at Havana Airport

    Cuban customs seized 25 drug capsules swallowed by a passenger arriving from Panama (and the US) at Havana airport, emphasizing the island’s zero‑tolerance drug policy.

22. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    El Salvador seizes record 6.68 tonnes of cocaine in Pacific operation

    El Salvador's navy seized a record 6.68 tonnes of cocaine worth $167 million, arresting six suspected Colombian and Ecuadorian smugglers, marking the biggest drug bust in the country's history.

23. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 4 sources

    El Salvador seizes record 6.68 tons of cocaine

    El Salvador’s navy seized a record 6.68 tons of cocaine worth $167 million in two Pacific operations, President Bukele said, arresting six suspects from Colombia and Ecuador.

24. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    El Salvador navy seizes record 6.68 tonnes of cocaine

    El Salvador’s navy intercepted two vessels on 18 June, seizing a record 6.68 tonnes of cocaine worth $167 million, raising the year’s total to 13.286 tonnes.

25. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 19 sources

    Ecuador interior minister warns criminals are fleeing to Colombia

    Ecuador’s interior minister says criminals flee to Colombia, using genuine Colombian IDs to evade capture, citing recent cartel arrests and urging stronger political action.

26. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 65 sources

    Manzanillo port seizure of 270 kg of cocaine and two migrants

    Mexican navy and federal agencies seized ~270 kg of cocaine (268 packages) from a container at Manzanillo port, Colima, and detained two irregular migrants; evidence transferred to the public prosecutor.

27. about 1 month ago

    [CRIME] 12 sources

    Colombian Navy destroys five cocaine labs in Vichada, crippling FARC‑dissident financing

    Colombia’s Navy, with Army and Police, razed five cocaine‑processing labs in Vichada, cutting off around 1 billion pesos of funding for a FARC‑dissident faction.

28. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 4 sources

    Bolivia wood‑cocaine smuggling scandal fuels political controversy

    Bolivia's wood‑cocaine bust, involving 108 tonnes of cocaine, triggers a mega‑operation and political accusations over high‑level ties to the smuggling network.

29. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Bolivia man survives cocaine ingestion case, Chile prison intercepts smuggled drugs

    A Bolivian man survived after swallowing cocaine capsules and was arrested; in Chile, authorities seized cocaine, base paste and marijuana smuggled into Curicó prison via a “pelotazo.”

30. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Bolivia raids sawmill in major Narcomadera drug‑trafficking probe

    Bolivia’s Ministry of Public and FELCN raided the Indusmar SRL sawmill in Riberalta, linking its wood exports to drug‑laden cargoes intercepted in Chile as part of the Narcomadera investigation.

31. about 2 months ago

    [POLITICS] 2 sources

    Bolivia Vice President Blames Govt After $8.3 bn Drug Seizure in Chile

    Bolivia’s vice president blames the government for drug‑policy failure after Chile seized over 100 t of cocaine worth $8.3 bn, and criticised a proposed international investigation commission.

32. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Cocaine seized on Bolivian route, driver arrested for use in Chile

    Bolivian police seized two cocaine shipments hidden in yogurt on the Cochabamba‑Oruro route, arresting a woman; in Chile, a Temuco microbus driver tested positive for cocaine and was detained.

33. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources

    Colombian police seize over 5 tonnes of marijuana in Valle del Cauca

    Colombian police halted a truck on a Valle del Cauca highway, confiscating 5.5 tonnes of marijuana worth 4.4 million pesos and preventing millions of doses from entering the market.

34. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Chile busts 100‑ton drug shipment hidden in wood logs

    Chile seized 100 tonnes of cocaine and ketamine hidden in wood, a novel method, valued at $8.3 bn and sourced from Bolivia for shipment to many countries.

35. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Chile Seizes Record Over 100 Tons of Cocaine and Ketamine Hidden in Timber Shipments

    Chile authorities seized over 100 tons of cocaine and ketamine hidden in timber bound for Europe, valued at $8.3 bn, marking the country's largest drug bust.

36. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 7 sources

    Chile seizes record 100+ tons of cocaine‑laced wood from Bolivia

    Chile seized over 108 tonnes of cocaine and ketamine hidden in Bolivian timber, the biggest drug bust in its history, valued at $8.3 bn, after a six‑month joint investigation and related raids in Bolivia.

37. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 4 sources

    Chile seizes record 1,000+ tons drug‑laden timber, Mexico intercepts cocaine‑loaded plane

    Chile seized over 1,000 tons of cocaine‑laden timber, the biggest ever, while Mexico intercepted a cocaine‑loaded plane, seizing drugs, weapons and vehicles.

38. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources

    Mexican Navy Seizes 1.3 Tonnes of Cocaine off Guerrero Coast

    Mexico’s Navy seized 1.3 tonnes of cocaine off Guerrero, averting an estimated 2.6 million doses and causing a 283 million‑peso loss for traffickers.

39. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 3 sources

    Ecuador seizes 1.5 tonne cocaine shipment and 736 g hidden in airport cargo

    Ecuador seized about 1.5 tonnes of cocaine at a Guayas port and 736 g hidden in boxes bound for Australia at Quito airport, prompting arrests and highlighting the country's role as a transit hub.

40. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Guatemala and Honduras eradicate over 500,000 coca plants

    Guatemala and Honduras jointly destroyed over half a million coca plants and seized eight narco‑labs in coordinated anti‑drug operations across Petén and several Honduran departments.

41. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Mexican Navy seizes 1.36 tonnes of cocaine off Guerrero coast

    Mexico’s navy seized 1.36 tonnes of cocaine near Boca Chica, Guerrero, preventing an estimated 2.6 million doses and costing traffickers about 283 million pesos.

42. about 2 months ago

    [CRIME] 2 sources

    Colombia’s Drug Crackdown Records Massive Seizures and Expands Voluntary Coca Substitution

    Colombia’s government seized 3,210 tonnes of cocaine, eradicated 8,584 ha of coca and shifted thousands of farms to voluntary substitution, while port seizures hit 37 tonnes in Q1 2026 using hidden‑cargo tricks

43. 3 months ago

    [CRIME] 18 sources

    US Coast Guard seizes 6,000+ pounds of cocaine off Colombia

    U.S. Coast Guard seized over 6,000 lb of cocaine worth up to $62 M off Colombia in a multi‑vessel interdiction.