Colon, Honduras.
Honduran security forces confiscated Wednesday about 1,400 pounds of cocaine in an anti-drug operation in the country’s Caribbean and seven Hondurans, alleged crew members of a ship carrying the away, a military source reported.
The operation took place today “30 nautical miles southeast of (the island of) Guanaja”, in the department of Islas de la Bahía, in the Caribbean, where elements of the armed forces and naval forces intercepted the boat, from Name Kabu Payaskathe spokesman for the military institution, José Coello, told reporters.
The detainees are six Hondurans and one Colombian: John Seco Lonzo Leavy (39), maritime profession, born and resident in Coxen Hole, Roatán, Allan Fernando Izaguirrez Chavez (28), of maritime profession, originally from San Pedro Sula and living in La Ceiba, Atlántida; Ricardo Arturo Well Guerra (41), a sailor, a resident of Francisco Morazán and residing in Santa Rosa de Copán; Beddly Jaime Rodriguez Villa (44), sailor, born and living in Barranquilla, Colombia; Jimmie Dane Johnson Jones (55), captain, resident of Frensh charwuer, Bay Islands; Roger Quilani Hernandez Turcios (40), an oiler, originally from Guanaja and living in Roatán; Jose Donai Diaz (48), originally from Sabá, Colón, and living in Guanaja.
The Honduran-flagged vessel was inspected by a team of combat divers, who found “so far 65 bales, (containing) about 1,400 kilograms of cocaine,” he said.
Authorities have imprisoned seven crew members of the boat, all of them of Honduran nationality, who will be placed under the orders of the judicial authorities, with whom they will be charged with drug trafficking, he added.
Canine teams from the Military Police of Public Order, the Navy, the Merchant Navy Directorate, the Anti-Drug Trafficking Directorate and the Organized Crime Directorate also took part in the operation.
The ship, illegal substance and seven detained persons were transferred to a naval base in Puerto Castilla, in the country’s Caribbean, the Honduran armed forces spokesman said.
Mario Molina, Director of the anti-drug police, stated that “the inspection conducted today at the dock resulted in the discovery of a false bottom where there were white bags of cocaine hydrochloride.”
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“The vessel is Honduran and was intercepted by elements of the merchant navy and with the backing of the naval forces as it headed for the Bay Islands,” said Commissioner Molina.
The ship was insured during a land, sea and air shield operation launched by the Honduran authorities in 2014 to curb drug trafficking from South America.
“Our maritime shield is giving a heavy blow to the drug trade. Congratulations to our armed forces, naval forces and other national agencies from @MP_Honduras and associated countries for an operation at sea to intercept a ship in the Caribbean. Honduras, hostile country to drug trafficking, ”Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández said on Twitter.
The Maritime Shield has the backing of the United States through a Coast Guard in international waters adjacent to that of the Central American nation in the Caribbean, while the air is unilaterally exported through Honduras.
Agents of the National Police, the Military Police of Public Order and other institutions develop the country shield.
The Honduran territory is one of the areas used for the passage of drugs coming into the United States from South America. EFE