The National Police of Colombia seizes 4,921.5 kilos of cocaine in September, hidden in coffee and beer bound for Barcelona and Toledo. 32 arrested.
The National Police of Colombia reported on Tuesday the seizure of 4,921.5 kilograms of cocaine during the month of September at airports across the country, as part of Operation Jotam. The operation has also resulted in the arrest of 32 individuals, according to the Anti-Narcotics Directorate.
Two shipments account for the majority of the seized drugs and were destined for Spain. The first, containing 1,211 kilograms of cocaine mixed with coffee, was headed for Barcelona and was intercepted with the support of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). The second, with 3,500 kilograms hidden in beer, was destined for Toledo.
The operation, carried out under the Emerald strategy, also led to the seizure of 96.7 kilograms of marijuana and the identification of 103 cases related to drug trafficking. Controls were strengthened over passengers, luggage, air cargo, mail shipments, and aircraft, with risk analysis and coordination with international agencies.
Brigadier General William Castaño Ramos, director of Anti-Narcotics, explained that criminal networks adapt their methods to use airports as departure platforms. "From the Anti-Narcotics Directorate, we are strengthening risk analysis, international cooperation, and our operational capabilities to anticipate these modalities and close the routes used by these criminal organizations," he stated.
Among the concealment methods detected are substances hidden in souvenir-type objects, suitcases, postal shipments, and mail packages, as well as drugs adhered to the bodies of passengers and transported through ingestion. Cooperation with authorities from Spain, the United States, Canada, and Panama allowed for the identification of routes destined for those countries, in addition to France and the Netherlands.
The Police did not specify the airports where the seizures took place nor the nationality of those arrested. Authorities continue to analyze the routes, the individuals responsible for the shipments, and the mechanisms used to conceal the drugs in export products.
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