US 'applauds' Bukele for seizure of tons of cocaine: 'It is impossible to calculate how many lives were saved'
The US government praised El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele for a massive cocaine seizure, stating it was a significant blow to transnational crime and could save countless lives.
The US government under Donald Trump expressed its support for El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele after the country recorded its largest drug seizure in history, with 6.6 tons of cocaine intercepted. The shipment, valued at approximately $165 million, was believed to be destined for the United States. The US Department of State highlighted the gravity of this seizure, indicating the profound impact it could have on reducing drug-related deaths.
The operation, which involved the interception of the multipurpose support vessel FMS EAGLE by the Salvadoran Navy, demonstrates the growing collaboration between El Salvador and the United States in the ongoing fight against drug trafficking. US officials emphasized that it is difficult to estimate the number of lives that may have been saved by preventing this massive drug influx, framing it as a critical effort in combating international narcotics trade.
The US has increasingly focused its strategy on addressing drug trafficking in Central America, and Bukele's actions are seen as aligning with their efforts to tackle transnational crime. This partnership is seen as a pivotal component of US security interests in the region, particularly as it relates to controlling the narcotics trade routes that often lead to American streets.