Mexican Navy Seizes More Than a Tonne of Suspected Cocaine Off Chiapas and Oaxaca
Mexico’s Navy has seized more than a tonne of suspected cocaine in two Pacific operations off Chiapas and Oaxaca, arresting one person.
The seizures were carried out by personnel from the Mexican Navy, operating through the Mexican Navy's Coast Guard service, during maritime patrols and surveillance operations. The two separate actions took place in Pacific waters off the country's southwestern coastline. Officials reported that a total of 32 packages containing a substance resembling cocaine were recovered, with a combined weight of approximately 1,149 kilograms, including packaging.
In the first operation, naval personnel located 16 packages containing approximately 629 kilograms of suspected cocaine. The discovery formed the larger part of the two seizures announced by the authorities. The packages were recovered during routine maritime surveillance, although officials did not disclose the precise location of the interception or provide details about the vessel or individuals potentially connected to the shipment.
A second operation resulted in the recovery of another 16 packages, weighing approximately 520 kilograms. Together, the two operations accounted for the total reported seizure of 32 packages. Authorities said the material had characteristics similar to cocaine, but stressed that its final legally confirmed weight had not yet been established.
One person was arrested during the operations. The individual was informed of their legal rights before being transferred to the Federal Attorney General's Office, known as the FGR, alongside the suspected drugs. The Federal Security and Citizen Protection Secretariat also supported the process as investigators began the relevant case proceedings.
Officials have not publicly released the identity of the detained individual or provided further information about their alleged role. The announcement also did not establish where the suspected cocaine originated or its intended destination. Any conclusions about the people or criminal networks behind the shipments will depend on the investigation and evidence gathered by the relevant authorities.
The Mexican Security Cabinet estimated that the two seizures represented a financial impact of 272.9 million pesos for criminal groups, equivalent to approximately US$14.5 million. The government said the confiscations would weaken the financial and operational capabilities of organisations involved in drug trafficking. The estimate reflects the authorities' assessment of the value associated with the seized shipments.
Security Minister Omar García Harfuch announced the operations on Thursday, 5 November. He said maritime seizures were intended to reduce the resources available to organised criminal groups, including money used to acquire weapons, influence officials and generate violence. He also highlighted the potential public safety benefit of preventing drugs from reaching communities.
The authorities clarified that the reported 1,149-kilogram figure includes the weight of the packaging. The precise weight of the suspected narcotics, known in Mexico as the ministerial weight, is still awaiting confirmation by the competent authorities. Once the final figure has been established, the confirmed amount will be added to the national administration's cumulative maritime seizure total.
The latest announcement brings attention to the scale of Mexico's ongoing maritime anti-trafficking operations. According to the Security Cabinet, more than 97 tonnes of cocaine had been seized at sea since President Claudia Sheinbaum took office in October 2024. The latest confiscation will be incorporated into that total once its official weight has been determined.
The Pacific maritime corridor has been a particular focus of enforcement activity. Naval operations have taken place off the coasts of Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero and Michoacán, where authorities conduct patrols intended to detect and intercept suspected drug shipments. These coastal areas are part of a wider maritime security effort aimed at disrupting trafficking routes across the Pacific.
In October 2026, Mexican authorities announced another major seizure involving more than 1.2 tonnes of suspected cocaine in international waters south of Huatulco, Oaxaca. That operation was conducted in coordination with the United States Coast Guard, approximately 366 nautical miles from the Oaxacan coast. Six people, including five foreign nationals, were detained during the interception.
Earlier in August, Mexican naval forces also reported seizures exceeding four tonnes of suspected cocaine during several operations off Oaxaca and Chiapas. Those actions resulted in 13 arrests, according to official reports. The repeated interceptions demonstrate the continued focus on maritime surveillance in the region, although authorities have not disclosed the full details of the trafficking networks involved.
Mexico's maritime enforcement operations form part of a broader security strategy involving naval patrols, aerial surveillance and cooperation between federal agencies. The Navy works alongside other government institutions to identify suspected criminal activity in national waters and support investigations after seizures. Coordination with international partners, particularly the United States, remains an important element of efforts to address drug trafficking across the Pacific.
The latest seizure comes amid continuing security cooperation and tensions between Mexico and the United States over drug trafficking, border enforcement and organised crime. Both countries have an interest in disrupting international supply routes, although their approaches to security and law enforcement have at times differed. Maritime interceptions remain one of the methods used by Mexican authorities to prevent suspected narcotics shipments from reaching their destinations.
Investigations into the two latest operations are continuing under the Federal Attorney General's Office. The final weight of the suspected cocaine, details surrounding the arrested individual and any possible links to wider criminal organisations have yet to be confirmed publicly. Authorities are expected to use the evidence recovered during the operations as part of the ongoing proceedings.
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