Overview
- Panama’s air and sea authority Senan intercepted the vessel near Isla San José and detained all ten people on board.
- Authorities reported roughly 13.5 tonnes of cocaine seized per Senan or about 12 tonnes per the prosecutor, packed into more than 11,500 bundles.
- Those arrested include nationals of Venezuela, Ecuador and Nicaragua, according to prosecutor Julio Villareal.
- Officials said the boat departed Colombia and traveled on an unusual northerly route, with the crew attempting to evade and resist enforcement.
- The haul ranks as the biggest off Panama since 2007 and comes as the U.S. military reports at least 20 recent strikes on suspected smuggling boats that it says have killed at least 76 people, drawing sharp political reactions.