(Xinhua) Panama’s police seized 1.8 tons of cocaine on the country’s Atlantic coasts Monday, Public Security Minister Jose Raul Mulino said.
Mulino said it has been the largest amount of drugs seized this year so far, and the security forces’ biggest victory against international drug trafficking cartels.
He said the cocaine was found inside a cargo truck, 20 miles (about 32 km) north of Colon city, and eight Colombian citizens were detained during the operation.
The operation was carried out by units of the National Aero-Naval Service in coordination with the US Security and Cooperation Council.
“Panama continues at the vanguard of Latin American countries on drug seizure,” Mulino said.
Last weekend, Panamanian authorities seized 297 kg of cocaine in Darien province, on the border with Colombia.
In 2010, Panama seized about 80 tons of drugs, mainly cocaine.