The day before, President Nayib Bukele announced the seizure of an important shipment of weapons destined for Ecuador in an anti-drug trafficking operation carried out by the National Navy that resulted in the seizure of a shipment of firearms.

The detailed information specified that the Tridente Naval Task Force seized 12 AR-15 carbines, 20 AK-47 rifles, 1 M60 machine gun, 1 Barrett .50 sniper rifle, magazines, and ammunition in a vessel coming from Mexico.

“Another successful operation of our National Navy against drug trafficking and arms trafficking on the high seas. In addition, we have reached a new record for the longest distance in a seizure: 1004 nautical miles (1,859 kilometers) from our coasts,” the governor detailed through his X account.

In this operation carried out on August 15, in addition to the weapons of war, 1,200 kilograms of cocaine were seized in two Ecuadorian vessels with an estimated value of US$30 million.

In the last 90 days, added the president, our National Navy seized 9.3 tons of cocaine on the high seas, valued at US$233 million.

Government reports highlight that 2024 is shaping up to be the year with the largest drug seizures during the current government’s administration, since according to official records, from January 1 to July 31 of this year, 11.1 tons of all types of drugs valued at US$278.1 million were seized.

The statistics specify that during the period from 2019 to August 15, 2024, 43.3 tons of drugs were seized, with an estimated value of 1,003.8 million, mainly 11.2 tons this year, of which 10.7 tons of cocaine.

On the economic front, the investment of 1,615 million dollars in the expansion of the port of Acajutla and the activation of the Port of La Unión made headlines.

Recently, the agreement, which has established a mixed economy company with the Turkish company YILPORT for 50 years, has attracted attention and generated diverse comments on its impact on turning the country into a logistics and trade hub in the region.

jrr/jav/ro/lb