Police seize 1.68 tonnes of US-bound cocaine in record bust for Mexico City

A huge shipment of cocaine bound for Los Angeles was seized by police in Mexico City on Tuesday, officials reported, adding that the confiscated 1.68 tonnes made for the largest cocaine bust ever in the capital city.

The contraband came by sea from Colombia and entered Mexico in the Oaxacan coastal city of Puerto Escondido, the newspaper El País reported. From there, according  to media reports, it was transported by two freight trucks to Mexico City, where some of the drug was going to be distributed in the Tepito neighborhood, though the bulk of the 3,704 lbs. of cocaine was on its way to L.A.

“This represents a strong blow to the financial structure of criminal organizations,” said Mexico City Police Chief Omar García Harfuch, who noted that the cocaine had a street value of about 400 million pesos (US $19.5 million).

Four people were detained and three vehicles, one of which was escorting the two trucks, were seized, one of them with secret compartments to hide the cocaine, El País reported. Some media reported that those arrested are Colombians, while others said they are from Durango.

Though Mexico City officials admit their city is used as a shipping point, they claim drug cartels do not operate as brazenly there as they do in other parts of Mexico.

In images shared by the police, agents are seen hammering the top of the vehicles and discovering hundreds of packages of cocaine. The bust took place in the Gustavo A. Madero borough, where Mexico City’s Norte bus station is located, and was aided by authorities from nearby México state.

García said the shipment was linked to a criminal group with a presence in the states of Sinaloa and Durango, in a remote area known as “The Golden Triangle” (which President López Obrador said in May should be rebranded as “The Triangle of Good, Hard-Working People”). 

However, the Minister of Public Security did not cite the Sinaloa Cartel or any other criminal organization by name. But noting that several drug trafficking routes have been identified, García did say intelligence work will lead to more busts going forward.

Two years ago, García was hit by three bullets when a vehicle he was traveling in was riddled by more than 400 gunshots. Two escorts from the Public Security Ministry died in that attack, as did a woman who was caught in the crossfire. Since then, 14 suspects identified as members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel have been arrested, El Pais reported.

With reports from El País

Have something to say? Paid Subscribers get all access to make & read comments.
Mexico City, Mexico - August 25, 2021: Aerial view of BBVA bank tower

With ‘Smartshoring Mexico,’ BBVA aims to aid arrival of Spanish investment

0
The Madrid-headquartered bank's newest service aligns with plans to double bilateral trade with Mexico, as well as expand mutual investment by 50% in the next four years.
CNTE campamento

With direct talks broken off, police prepare for more protest actions from CNTE

0
The teachers' union rejected the government's "final" offer and proceeded to take over highway toll booths on Monday. There are signs, however, that the members' resolve is starting to wane.
Joel Bravo

Armed men kill Oaxaca mayor who had requested government protection

0
According to party representatives, Mayor of San Miguel Amatitlán Joel Bravo had told state authorities that he feared for his life and asked for protection from the state government at a regional security meeting on May 11.
BETA Version - Powered by Perplexity