The operation, which took place in cooperation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), was announced by the president on Tuesday, October 20.
In a post on X, de la Espriella said the National Police had achieved a major breakthrough in the fight against international drug trafficking.
“The National Police has just achieved the largest cocaine seizure in the port of Cartagena in the last 10 years,” he wrote.
The president emphasised his administration’s determination to combat drug trafficking networks, describing the operation as part of a broader effort to prevent narcotics from reaching international markets and weaken the financial strength of criminal organisations.
“There is no truce against narco-terrorism! Every dose we prevent from reaching the streets saves lives, and every dollar we take from them weakens their criminal structures,” he added.
According to the authorities, the seized cocaine was concealed in powdered panela, a traditional unrefined sugar produced from sugarcane. The unusual concealment method was reportedly used to disguise the illicit shipment and facilitate its movement through the port.
Colombia’s National Police said its anti-narcotics directorate discovered the drugs during an operation coordinated with the DEA.
The seizure represents a significant interception of narcotics intended for the European market, where cocaine trafficking remains a major concern for law enforcement agencies.
De la Espriella said the shipment was worth approximately 43 billion Colombian pesos on the domestic market. He added that its value would have exceeded $200 million had it reached its intended destination in the Netherlands.
The difference in estimated value reflects the potentially much higher prices cocaine can command in international markets compared with its value within the producing country.
Colombia remains one of the world’s major sources of cocaine, and authorities have continued to conduct operations targeting the production, transportation and export of the drug. International trafficking organisations frequently use maritime shipping routes to move large consignments from South America to Europe and other destinations.
The port of Cartagena, a major commercial gateway on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, is strategically important for international trade. Its location and shipping connections also make effective cargo screening and intelligence-led enforcement essential to preventing illegal shipments from leaving the country.
The latest operation highlights the importance of cooperation between Colombian law enforcement agencies and international partners, including the DEA, in identifying and intercepting suspected drug shipments.
Although the seizure has been described as a major success, authorities face the continuing challenge of disrupting the wider networks responsible for producing, financing and distributing cocaine.
The operation also underscores the scale of the financial incentives driving international drug trafficking, with the intercepted consignment estimated to be worth more than $200 million in its intended European destination.
Colombian authorities have presented the seizure as evidence of their continued commitment to confronting narcotics trafficking and weakening criminal organisations that profit from the illegal drug trade.
