The Mexican navy has intercepted a semisubmersible vessel carrying 3.5 tons of cocaine off the Pacific coast, authorities confirmed Friday, releasing footage of the dramatic bust.
During a maritime patrol near the southern state of Guerrero, officials detected the vessel, which was manned by three individuals and loaded with 180 packages of cocaine, the navy said in a statement.
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Authorities also shared images of the seized narcotics alongside a Mexican naval ship, along with video footage showing the vessel’s intercepted at sea.
The operation marks the latest in a string of major drug seizures as Mexico faces increasing pressure from President Donald Trump to combat narcotics smuggling.
Since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in October, Mexico has confiscated over 44.8 tons of cocaine at sea, according to the navy.
That same month, officials reported a record-breaking seizure of over 8.3 tons of unspecified drugs aboard a semisubmersible and a convoy of additional vessels off the Pacific coast.
Earlier in June, authorities uncovered nearly 42 tons of methamphetamine worth over $50 million during raids on illicit drug labs inland.
President Trump has repeatedly pointed to the trafficking of illegal drugs — especially fentanyl — as justification for the tariffs he’s imposed on Mexican imports.
Semisubmersible vessels, which can’t submerge entirely, are frequently used by international drug smugglers due to their ability to evade detection. While these vessels often depart from Colombia en route to the U.S., Central America, or Europe, Mexico has reported several interceptions in recent months.
In November, the navy seized 3.6 tons of cocaine aboard a semisubmersible roughly 153 miles off the coast near the resort city of Acapulco.
And in August of last year, Mexican forces captured more than seven tons of cocaine during two separate operations in the Pacific Ocean, both featuring high-speed chases caught on video.
