San Salvador.– Salvadoran authorities reported this Tuesday that in what has been of 2025, more than 22 tons of different types of drugs have been seized, with an estimated value of 545.1 million dollars (459.36 million euros), within the framework of the security operations promoted by the
Government of President Nayib Bukele.
According to official figures, during the six years of the current administration, 71.6 tons of drugs have been seized, with a value on the international market exceeding $1.682 billion. This balance confirms the sustained increase in crackdowns on structures linked to drug trafficking, especially in the Pacific Ocean, one of the main routes used by criminal organizations to transport cocaine from South America to North America.
One of the most recent cases occurred on September 9th, when members of the National Navy of El Salvador located 1.4 tons of cocaine floating in Pacific waters, a shipment valued at 35 million dollars. The discovery was highlighted by Bukele himself through his X account, where he emphasized that with this operation the country’s commitment to the regional fight against drug trafficking is reinforced.
“With this new seizure, we have already seized 37.2 tons of cocaine between 2024 and what has gone of 2025, with an estimated value of 932.4 million dollars,” the president pointed out.
Official data confirms that the Pacific Ocean continues to be the central stage for the largest seizures. In 2024 alone, 17.2 tons of drugs were seized in those waters, of which 16.7 tons corresponded to cocaine, as reported in January of this year by the Minister of Defense, René Francis Merino Monroy.
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The official detailed that maritime surveillance, the use of advanced detection technology, and cooperation with international organizations have been crucial in intercepting shipments before they reach land.
Since his arrival to power in 2019, Nayib Bukele has made security and the fight against organized crime one of the main flags of his administration. The strategy, which includes the militarization of ports and coasts, as well as the strengthening of the Naval Force, has allowed to expand the response capacity against drug trafficking.
The Salvadoran Government also highlights the role of the Anti-Narcotics Office of the National Civil Police (PNC), which has achieved land seizures and dismantled local distribution networks. However, 70% of the seizures in the last two years come from operations at sea.
Regional Impact
Security experts point out that the seizures in El Salvador not only reflect the internal effort, but also the strategic role of the country in the geography of drug trafficking. The Salvadoran maritime strip is used as a crossing point by transnational organizations, which makes the country a crucial link in the routes to the United States and Mexico.
In this context, the Government seeks to consolidate El Salvador as a reliable partner in the fight against international organized crime. The figures released, according to analysts, are also used by Bukele as an argument to reinforce his narrative of success in security matters, both in the fight against gangs and in drug interdiction.
With this year’s results, the Salvadoran Executive underlines that it has managed to surpass the seizure levels recorded in previous administrations, which it attributes to greater coordination between the National Navy, the Air Force, and the PNC. However, human rights organizations and critical voices warn that the security strategy must be complemented with prevention mechanisms, judicial cooperation, and social policies that reduce the vulnerability of coastal communities to drug trafficking networks.
So far in 2025, El Salvador is emerging as one of the Central American countries with the largest drug seizures, reflecting both the magnitude of the problem and the intensity of the state response.
