4 tons of cocaine seized from "narco sub" in Pacific, video shows

Mexican authorities announced on Thursday, February 20, 2026, that they had seized approximately four tons of cocaine from a semisubmersible vessel known as a 'narco sub' 250 nautical miles south of the port of Manzanillo in the Pacific Ocean, detaining three individuals in the operation that utilized intelligence shared by U.S. Northern Command and the Joint Interagency Task Force South. The coordinated efforts in the Pacific Ocean reflect a significant push against drug trafficking in the region, with Mexico's Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch highlighting that this seizure, combined with others throughout the week, brought the total to nearly 10 tons of confiscated narcotics. The operation, which was documented in video released by officials, shows naval vessels intercepting the low-riding boat with three visible motors before confiscating the substantial drug haul. García Harfuch emphasized the impact on organized crime, stating the seizure represents 'a direct and multimillion-dollar blow to the financial structures of organized crime, by preventing millions of doses from reaching the streets and protecting the safety of Mexican families.' Simultaneously, El Salvador achieved a historic milestone on Sunday by intercepting 6.6 tons of cocaine aboard a 180-foot boat registered to Tanzania, located 380 miles southwest of El Salvador's coast. Navy divers discovered 330 packages of cocaine concealed in the vessel's ballast tanks, leading to the arrest of ten men from Colombia, Nicaragua, Panama, and Ecuador. This marked the largest drug seizure in El Salvador's history, with Salvadoran authorities later granting access to the seized ship FMS Eagle upon its arrival in the port of La Union, where images revealed more than 200 wrapped bundles arranged on the deck. These coordinated efforts come amid heightened tensions in the region, as the Trump administration has increased pressure on Mexico to intensify drug seizures, using drug trafficking as justification for tariffs on Mexican imports. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has adopted a more aggressive stance toward cartels than her predecessor, including extraditing dozens of drug trafficking prisoners to the U.S. for prosecution, though she has expressed disagreement with U.S. military strikes in Caribbean and Pacific waters. The U.S. operations, which have resulted in at least 145 deaths since targeting 'narcoterrorists' began last September, included recent strikes against three boats suspected of carrying drugs, killing 11 people. The U.S. Coast Guard also contributed to anti-drug efforts by seizing over 2,000 pounds of cocaine off Puerto Rico, though the suspected traffickers evaded capture after throwing their cargo overboard.