El Salvador Navy Seizes Record 6.6 Tonnes of Cocaine 380 Nautical Miles Offshore
Updated
Updated · MercoPress · Jun 7
El Salvador Navy Seizes Record 6.6 Tonnes of Cocaine 380 Nautical Miles Offshore
1 articles · Updated · MercoPress · Jun 7
Summary
El Salvador’s navy intercepted the FMS Eagle on Feb. 14 about 380 nautical miles offshore, seizing 6.6 tonnes of cocaine in the country’s largest drug bust on record.
That offshore hit reflects a wider shift in trafficking routes after U.S.-backed pressure intensified in Central America following Nicolás Maduro’s capture in January, pushing smugglers farther into international waters.
Nayib Bukele used the seizure to reinforce his “Pacific wall” security message, though the report says El Salvador still ranks seventh among the nine countries on the Pacific trafficking route.
Across the region, governments aligned with Washington are hardening their response: Guatemala has seized more than 33 tonnes since 2024, Honduras deployed the army after 24 killings, and Panama leads with over 43 tonnes through May.
Can a US-led military coalition solve the drug crisis without major regional powers like Mexico and Brazil?
With 207 killed in US strikes, is the new 'war on drugs' simply escalating violence in the Americas?
Beyond cartels, what does the new 'Donroe Doctrine' signal about US ambitions for the Western Hemisphere?
Breaking Records at Sea: El Salvador’s Largest Cocaine Bust and the Evolving Pacific Drug Routes (2026)
Overview
On February 16, 2026, El Salvador's National Navy intercepted the FMS EAGLE, a multipurpose support vessel, about 380 nautical miles southwest of the country's coast. This operation marked the largest drug seizure in El Salvador's history. Following the interception, authorities took legal and administrative actions, including attempts by the Zanzibar Maritime Authority to contact the vessel's company, which were unsuccessful. As a result, the shipping company was fined, and Zanzibar began a comprehensive review of its registration agents. This event highlights El Salvador's growing capability to combat sophisticated offshore drug trafficking.