More than 600 kilograms of cocaine were found hidden in containers in a port in eastern Guatemala, authorities announced on Monday.
The seizure of 616 kilograms of cocaine took place in Puerto Santo Tomas de Castilla, about 200 kilometers northeast of the capital, on the Caribbean coast, said the prosecutor’s office, Juan Luis Pantaleon.Remaining Time-0:00FullscreenMute
Authorities estimate that the amount of drugs seized was worth $ 8.5 million.
The containers came from Panama, but the origin of the cocaine has not yet been established, said Edwin Monroe, a police spokesman.
According to the US authorities, 90% of the cocaine produced in South America and destined for the USA is transported by small aircraft, floating or improvised submarines, passing through Central American countries.
In them, local criminal networks operate in collaboration with international cartels.
According to the Guatemalan authorities, violent incidents related to drug trafficking and organized crime gangs are responsible for almost half of the 3,500 homicides recorded in the country each year on average.
