Peru’s National Police have reported the capture of nearly a ton of cocaine, after two air and land operations that took place in the Apurimac and Ene River Valley (VRAE).
VRAE police chief, Victor Torres, said 540 kg of cocaine were seized during the first operation on October 7, near the native community of Boca Sonaro, in the province of Satipo, Junin.
According to Andina, members of the counter-subversive battalion, from the army’s 31st infantry brigade, carried out the operation that led to the arrest of seven people, including a Colombian thought to have connections to an international drug cartel.
Officials also seized 415 kg of cocaine during the second operation, which took place on October 12, in Llochegua, in the province of Huanta, in Ayacucho. The operation involved the use of helicopters, and also destroyed two drug making laboratories.
Chief of police Torres told local radio station RPP, that "although the operations were carried out at different times both are related, because it is the same gang, headed by a Colombian national, who went by the name of ‘Bellota’; operating in Llochegua.”
Torres said the shipment of cocaine was thought to be headed to Mexico, before being smuggled into the United States.
