'Biggest drugs seizure in history' in Colombia
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- Eight tons of cocaine seized
- Street value of 250 million US dollars
- Three arrested
Police in Colombia have confiscated eight tons of cocaine.
The biggest seizure of drugs in history
The drugs were seized at a site on the border with Panama. It is one of the largest hauls to be seized in the country in recent years.
De esta forma nuestra
— Mindefensa Colombia (@mindefensa) May 15, 2016PoliciaColombia</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/PoliciaAntiNar">PoliciaAntiNar logró incautar 8 toneladas de cocaína del #ClanÚsugapic.twitter.com/Sr9TCDyVbw
It was discovered in an underground hideaway on a banana plantation in the municipality of Turbo in the Antioquia region.
- Estimated value of 240m dollars (212m euros)
- Three arrested during operation
- Three reportedly escaped
The Clan Usuga family
#Colombia seizes record 8 tons of cocaine in Turbo, in the northwestern Uraba region https://t.co/adZVJtxjELpic.twitter.com/2ViuXJWu4d
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) May 16, 2016
Defence Minister Luis Carlos Villegas said the drugs belong to the Clan Usuga criminal gang.
“The street value in New York is an estimated 250 million US dollars, so this is a blow to the finances of the Usuga family and narcotraffickers in general in the Uraba region of Colombia.”
The US is offering a 5m dollar reward for the capture of the cartel’s leader.
Drugs in Colombia
The UN says Colombia produces an estimated 440 tonnes of cocaine annually.
The Colombian authorities seized 252 tons of the drug in 2015.
What they are saying
“This is a blow to the finances of the Usuga family and narcotraffickers in general in the Uruba region of Colombia,” – Defence Minister Luis Carlos Villegas confirms the details of the seizure.
“The biggest seizure of drugs in history. A hit against all criminals,” – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on Twitter.