Colombian security forces have seized 8.2 tons of cocaine in the port of the city of Buenaventura on the Pacific coast, which is one of the largest drug seizures in the country's history, President Gustavo Petro announced, DPA reported, quoted by BTA.
"The National Police confiscated 8.2 tons of cocaine in the port of the city of Buenaventura", Petro said in "Ex". "This is one of the largest cocaine seizures in the history of Colombia. So far this month, the national police have seized 24 tons."
A total of 848.5 tons of cocaine were seized in Colombia last year - a record and a 14% increase compared to the same period last year.
After the United States, Europe is the largest market for cocaine from Colombia, Peru and Bolivia, DPA recalls.
In 2023, more than 300 tons of cocaine were seized in European ports. In Antwerp alone, investigators seized a record 121 tons of cocaine - about 10% more than the previous year.