The crew of an offshore supply ship has been arrested following a seizure of drugs off El Salvador.
The Central American country’s president, Nayib Bukele, said on X that the raid took place on the 1,200-dwt offshore supply ship FMS Eagle (built 1982).
“The Salvadoran Navy dealt the biggest blow to drug trafficking in the country’s history,” he added.
“More than 700 km off the coast, the Tanzanian-flagged vessel FMS Eagle was intercepted carrying 6.6 tons of cocaine hidden in ballast tanks.”
Bukele said specialised divers confirmed the shipment was concealed in secret compartments, revealing a high-level international operation.
“The seized shipment is valued at approximately $165m, marking a devastating blow to drug trafficking networks in the region,” the president added.
“Another historic operation that shakes up organised crime,” he said.
The packages of drugs and 10 crew members on their knees were lined up with armed military personnel for a photo on the stern ramp.
The seafarers were arrested during the operation: four Colombians, three Nicaraguans, two Panamanians and an Ecuadorian.
Video released by the government showed divers exploring the ballast tanks.
Bukele has described himself as the “coolest dictator in the world” and is a backer of the US crackdown on drug smuggling in the region.
