Chicago Immigration and Customs Enforcement Seizes Tons of Cocaine
HOUSTON, Texas — Special agents from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in collaboration with the Mexican Navy, have seized around seven tons of cocaine in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico. The estimated street value of the drugs exceeds $120 million.
Lucia Cabral de Armas, the Special Agent in Charge at HSI Houston, noted, “In the last month, through our international partnerships in this HSTF initiative, we’ve managed to intercept over six tons of harmful drugs that were headed into the United States and Mexico. This also keeps more than $120 million out of the hands of drug cartels.” She emphasized that these efforts are part of a shared mission to protect communities from the dangers posed by such substances.
Details shared with Breitbart News revealed that the seizures occurred off the coast of Chiapas on July 16, 25, and 31, with three separate operations yielding 2,840 kilograms, 1,800 kilograms, and 1,440 kilograms of cocaine. The joint efforts of HSI and the Mexican Navy resulted in the arrests of ten, three, and six drug traffickers during these interdictions.
The operations were executed as part of a broader initiative focused on targeting foreign terrorist organizations and drug trafficking networks. This joint task force aims to disrupt the transportation of illegal drugs into the United States and elsewhere.
HSI’s Cabral de Armas stated that the agency will continue its collaboration with both domestic and international partners to dismantle drug trafficking organizations and combat smuggling routes effectively.
In total, the recent operations have led to the seizure of 6,080 kilograms of cocaine, valued at about $120 million. Since the beginning of the year, efforts under the HSTF have resulted in the confiscation of a significant amount of drugs, including at least 118,350 kilograms of cocaine, along with firearms, vessels, vehicles, fuel, and even an aircraft.
HSI officials asserted, “Under the current administration, anyone attempting to smuggle drugs into the United States will face severe consequences.” They highlighted the designation of major drug cartels, such as the Sinaloa Cartel and others, as foreign terrorist organizations posing a threat to national security.
