MEXICO · SECURITY
Key Facts
- —The country Mexico, the United States’ southern neighbour, is a main transit route for South American cocaine headed to American cities.
- —What happened The Navy seized about 1,268 kilos of suspected cocaine off Oaxaca and detained six people, officials said on 12 October.
- —The US role The operation was carried out in coordination with the US Coast Guard, according to Mexico’s security secretary, Omar García Harfuch.
- —Where About 677 kilometres (366 nautical miles) south of Huatulco, a beach resort on the Pacific coast of the southern state of Oaxaca.
- —The numbers 46 bundles, about 2.5 million doses and an estimated loss of 289.1 million pesos (about US$15.8 million) for the traffickers.
- —Still open Officials have not named the six detained, their nationalities, the boat’s flag or the cargo’s destination.
Mexico’s Navy, working with the US Coast Guard, has seized about 1.2 tonnes of suspected cocaine off Oaxaca, far out in the Pacific Ocean. Six people on board a boat were detained, Mexican officials said on Monday, 12 October.
The boat was stopped about 677 kilometres south of Huatulco, a resort town on Oaxaca’s Pacific coast. For Americans, the case shows how Mexico and the United States still work together at sea to stop cocaine before it reaches the US border.
How the Boat Was Stopped
The Secretaría de Marina, or Semar, runs Mexico’s Navy and guards the country’s coasts and sea lanes. Officials said the boat carrying the cocaine off Oaxaca was first spotted during a Navy patrol and surveillance flight.
Navy aircraft and ships were then sent to intercept it. On board were 46 bundles with about 1,268 kilograms of suspected cocaine, according to official statements reported by La Razón and El Imparcial.
The operation took place about 366 nautical miles south of Huatulco, according to both newspapers. Omar García Harfuch, President Claudia Sheinbaum’s security secretary, announced the haul on the social network X.
He said the boat was stopped by the Navy “in coordination with the United States Coast Guard”. The Coast Guard is the US military service that enforces the law at sea, including against drug smuggling in the eastern Pacific.
What the Haul Means for the Cartels
Mexico’s security ministry put the loss from the cocaine off Oaxaca at 289.1 million pesos (about US$15.8 million) for criminal groups. It said the drugs equalled roughly 2.5 million doses that will not reach buyers.
“This represents millions of doses that are no longer sold on the streets,” García Harfuch wrote. He said the lost income would otherwise buy weapons, corrupt young people and officials, and fuel more violence.
He added that the Navy has seized more than 90 tonnes of cocaine at sea during Sheinbaum’s government. Sheinbaum, of the left-wing Morena party, took office in October 2024.
Peso figures are converted at about 18.29 pesos to the US dollar on 13 October 2026. The seizure follows another large haul on land: on 10 October, Sonora officials reported 1,201 kilos of cocaine found near the Arizona border.
What Happens to the Six Detained
The six people were read their rights and handed to the relevant authorities, the security ministry said. No charges have been announced, and they are presumed innocent.
The cargo was taken to the Navy’s 22nd Naval Zone base at Puerto Chiapas, a port near Mexico’s border with Guatemala. From there it goes to the FGR, Mexico’s federal Attorney General’s Office.
Prosecutors will set the official weight of the drug, which can differ from the Navy’s first estimate. Only then will the seizure be entered into the official records.
What It Means for You
For travellers, nothing in the official reports points to any risk on Oaxaca’s beaches or in Huatulco itself. The cocaine off Oaxaca was stopped hundreds of kilometres offshore, far from tourist areas.
For American readers, the case shows that South American cocaine bound for the US often travels by sea along Mexico’s Pacific coast. It also shows Mexican and US forces still working together at sea while trade and tariff talks with Washington remain unresolved.
Anyone planning a trip can read our guide to Mexico’s security and crime situation in 2026 for a wider picture.
What Is Not Known
Officials have not released the names or nationalities of the six people detained. They also have not said which country’s flag the boat flew, or when exactly it was stopped.
The Navy has not said where the cocaine came from, where it was going or which criminal group owned it. The US Coast Guard’s exact role, such as tracking or boarding, has not been described either.
More: Mexico news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much cocaine did Mexico’s Navy seize off Oaxaca?
About 1,268 kilograms, or roughly 1.2 tonnes, packed in 46 bundles. Federal prosecutors will set the final official weight.
Was the United States involved in the Oaxaca cocaine seizure?
Yes. Mexico’s security secretary said the Navy seized the cocaine off Oaxaca in coordination with the US Coast Guard. Officials have not detailed what the Coast Guard did.
Where exactly was the boat stopped?
In the Pacific Ocean, about 677 kilometres (366 nautical miles) south of Huatulco in Oaxaca state. The drugs were taken to Puerto Chiapas.
Is it safe to visit Huatulco?
The operation took place far out at sea, and officials reported no incident on land. Travellers should follow normal safety advice for Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Sources: La Razón, Marina asegura 1.2 toneladas de cocaína frente a costas de Oaxaca; hay 6 detenidos, 12 October 2026; El Imparcial, Marina asegura 1.2 toneladas de presunta cocaína en el Pacífico, detiene a seis personas, 12 October 2026; Diario de México, Incautan Marina y Guardia Costera de EU 1.2 toneladas de cocaína en costas de Oaxaca, 12 October 2026.
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error
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