2 Tons of cocaine seized in Caribbean in multi-country operation

Bogota, Mar 9 (EFE).- Colombian, U.S., Panamanian and Honduran authorities seized more than two tons of cocaine off Panama and Honduras, and arrested eight suspects, a high-level Colombian drug enforcement official said Tuesday.

The seizure was made during joint interdiction operations conducted by the United States, Panama and Colombia, acting drug enforcement agency director Col. Jose Angel Mendoza said.

The 2.3 tons of cocaine were found Monday afternoon aboard two speedboats on the high seas.

The simultaneous operations, which were carried out in the Atlantic and Pacific, resulted in the arrests of eight Hondurans and Colombians.

The first operation was undertaken in international waters off Honduras, ending with the seizure of a speedboat carrying 1.53 tons of cocaine.

Four Hondurans were arrested in a joint interdiction operation by the U.S. Coast Guard and the Honduran navy.

The second phase of the operation was executed simultaneously in the Pacific off Panama, where the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a speedboat.

The speedboat was carrying 760 kilos of cocaine, and the four Colombians aboard were arrested.