Mexican Navy Intercepts Semisubmersible Carrying Four Tons of Cocaine With U.S. Intelligence

Manzanillo, Colima — The Mexican Navy intercepted a semisubmersible vessel carrying nearly four tons of cocaine in Pacific waters, federal authorities announced Thursday, crediting U.S. intelligence collaboration for the seizure.

The operation occurred two days after U.S. military forces attacked three vessels suspected of drug trafficking in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean, resulting in 11 deaths in one of the deadliest days of the intensified anti-narcotics campaign under the Trump administration.

The semisubmersible, carrying three people and approximately 179 packages, was intercepted more than 250 nautical miles south of the port of Manzanillo in Colima, according to a statement from the federal Security Cabinet.

Federal Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch stated on X that authorities seized approximately four tons of cocaine in the operation, adding that maritime activities over the past week have netted nearly 10 tons of drugs.

Mexican authorities said they received intelligence support from U.S. Northern Command and the Joint Interagency Task Force South for the Pacific seizure.

Mexico has increased drug seizures, arrests, and extraditions of suspected traffickers to the United States in recent months, responding to pressure from the Trump administration to demonstrate stronger results in combating drug cartels.

García Harfuch acknowledged last week that Mexican military and police forces have seized more than 327 tons of drugs in recent months, including over four million fentanyl pills and 51 tons of cocaine.

Last month, Mexican authorities sent 37 prisoners to the United States for their alleged connections to drug trafficking organizations, following a similar transfer of 26 detainees in August.

In February 2025, Mexico conducted its first major transfer of 29 drug lords, including Rafael Caro Quintero, whom U.S. authorities seek to prosecute on multiple charges including orchestrating the 1985 murder of a DEA agent.