The first week of February at the Estanzuela estate, San José del Gulfo, the two cargoes of cocaine were seized on the coast of Izabal, confirmed the General Subdirectorate of Analysis of Anti -Narcotics Information of the National Civil Police.
On November 18, the Guatemala army reported the confiscation of more than three thousand cocaine packages in Izabal waters, which were located in 157 packages. Anti -narcotics researchers said that the seized would be delivered to members of the Sinaloa cartel in Mexico.
The investigation details that the boat left South America and the drug was hidden inside three engines. According to the version, the boat was navigating about 37 kilometers from the coast of Izabal, this at the time the army gave it persecution.
“The confiscation was made through the Navy of the National Defense, which managed to intercept a type vessel Eduardoño, Equipped with three outboard engines of 350 horsepower of the last model, ”said the Army on the day of the confiscation.
The crew reached the shore of the beach and fled from the authorities, but left the cargo valued at Q450 million 933 thousand 540.75.
The second drug seizure in that same week occurred on November 24, also in Izabal. The General Subdirectorate of Anti -Narcotics Information Analysis of the National Civil Police commented that they seized 1,998 cocaine packages that were transferred in a boat.
During that operation the authorities also did not report captures of those responsible for transferring the drug. The Army explained that the subjects when observing the military sailed to the shore and fled, so they left the cargo abandoned.
The researchers emphasized that they still work to determine to which criminal structure the drug was directed, but the first investigations suggest that it was for the same Mexican poster. Cocaine packages were identified as The bull, Similar characteristics to other shipments seized during the last month in South America.
How do they destroy the drug?
The authorities reported that the drug seized in Guatemala is incinerated.
Werner Ovalle, Anti -Coat Vice Ministry of the Ministry of the Interior, commented that the ovens where the illicit were burned were a donation by the United States through the International Office of Anti -Narcotics Assistance and compliance with the Law (INL, for our acronym in English).
“At the time there were a number of precursors and chemical substances that had been seized and that were in wineries in the ports. This represented a risk, ”said Ovalle.
The US Embassy in Guatemala said in 2020 that the oven was the first in the region with a large capacity and that more than US $ 1.5 million were invested.
Alan Ajiata, former deputy chief of the Prosecutor’s Office of Narcotivity Crimes of the Public Ministry, acknowledged that the area where the drug is destroyed is a “well structured” complex, with the ability to burn large loads.
“Guatemala at the regional level has one of the most robust systems in terms of the capacity for incineration or destruction drugs, but also in precursors, which is an incinerator oven that is in the Estanzuela estate,” he said.
Kilos of cocaine seized
2020 – 13 thousand 628
2021 – 11 thousand 14
2022 – 5 thousand 950
2023 – 5 thousand 37
2024 – 18 thousand 900
Seized drug
During the last four years, Guatemalan authorities have seized just over 54 thousand kilos of cocaine.
The Ministry of the Interior (Mingob) pointed out that during 2024 the drug confiscation tripled, compared to the previous year, when there were 5,37 kilos.
Mingob statistics detail that cocaine has been confiscated during road operations and Pacific and Atlantic oceans.
The interior portfolio stated that the transfer of drugs from South America to the United States has mutated. Less than three years ago the largest amount of drugs was sent via area to Guatemala, but the way of operating changed and criminals now use the oceans.
“These organizations mutate, change the way of operating. Now we know that maritime and terrestrial via is where the transfer can be increasing, ”said Government.