Colombian police and U.S. naval forces captured 2.5 tons of cocaine in northern Colombia Monday.
“Today in the Pacific, [Ocean] along with the U.S. Navy, we were able to seize 2.5 tons of cocaine(…) I think it’s an extra step towards the objective of providing more and more security to Colombians,” said President Juan Manuel Santos in a press conference.
Authorities confiscated large amounts of cash in a seperate operation in the Carribean Sea.
“From what I understand so far, we have already seized $300,000 from a speedboat, 10 miles from San Andres” he added.
Police forces also arrested 16 alleged members of the notorious drug gang, “Los Urabeños,” in the northern Colombian city of Santa Marta Monday. The neo-paramilitary group, which has a strong presence in northern and western Colombia, has suffered heavy blows this year. 17 members were arrested in March in the northern department of Cesar including one of its top leaders, Franlkin Alvarez Nieto, alias “Mickey.”