El Salvador has struck another major blow against international drug trafficking after authorities recovered 1.4 tons of cocaine floating in the Pacific Ocean, President Nayib Bukele announced Tuesday.
The massive drug haul… valued at an estimated $35 million… was discovered roughly 1,000 miles southwest of El Cordoncillo, near the Jaltepeque estuary along the nation’s Pacific coast. President Bukele shared images of the seizure on social media, calling the operation a clear message to global cartels that “El Salvador is not their playground.”
Between 2024 and 2025, El Salvador has confiscated over 37 tons of cocaine, with a street value of nearly $1 billion. Authorities say these busts highlight the country’s ongoing battle against powerful drug cartels that use Central America as a key trafficking route to the United States.
The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador praised the effort, stressing that every successful strike against organized crime reflects “growing unity between nations with shared goals.”
