Divers find more than 450 pounds of cocaine hidden under a ship bound for Europe and Colombia

Divers in Colombia discovered a large haul of cocaine beneath a ship preparing to set sail for Europe, the country’s navy announced Tuesday.

Navy crew members at a Pacific Coast port conducted an underwater inspection of the Europe-bound merchant ship, successfully seizing more than 450 pounds of suspected cocaine, military officials said on social media.

During the underwater inspection, divers from the Buenaventura Coast Guard Station found seven “suspicious bags” that were sealed and contained the narcotic, the Navy said.

Officials released photos of the seizure, showing images of divers recovering the drugs, as well as dozens of packages placed on the ground.

The seizure occurred just days after the Navy announced that it had seized more than seven tons of drugs in two speed boats and a semi-submersible vessel, or so-called “narcosubmarines” also in the Pacific Ocean. Officials released images and videos of the operation, showing several packages aboard a boat and alleged suspects surrendering and being pulled from the water.

Last month, the Trump administration sanctions announced against Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his relatives, accusing the leader of having “allowed drug cartels to flourish.” The sanctions came after months of friction between President Trump and Petro over the deportations of American immigrants and Attacks on suspected drug trafficking ships off the coast of South America.

in a exclusive conversation In October, on News themezone, Petro claimed that some of those killed by US attacks on suspected drug ships were innocent civilians and reiterated his charge that the attacks violate international law.

“Killing company workers is easy,” Petro said. “But if you want to be effective, you have to capture the bosses of the company.”

The White House has denied that innocent civilians were killed in the attacks on ships.

The DEA says about 90% of the cocaine coming into the United States comes from Colombia, and Trump has blamed Petro, saying he has failed to control the drug cartels operating in his country.

“They have insulted me,” Petro told News themezone. “And a lot, but the only thing I can do is be frank.”