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Colombia seizes vast cocaine haul Colombia cuts drugs haul figure
(about 7 hours later)
Colombia's navy has made the largest seizure of cocaine in the country's history, the defence minister has said. The authorities in Colombia have revised the total of drugs seized in a haul on Monday from around 25 tonnes of cocaine to just over 13 tonnes.
Up to 25 metric tons of cocaine was found buried in 1,000 separate packages near the town of Pizarro, west of the capital, Bogota. It was found buried in 1,000 separate packages near the town of Pizarro, west of the capital, Bogota, buried in an estuary accessible only by sea.
The drugs, buried in an estuary accessible only by sea, had a street value of $500m (368m euros; £250m). Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos had said on Monday the haul was the "biggest in the history of Colombia".
Defence Minister Juan Manuel Santos said the haul was the "biggest in the history of Colombia". No explanation has been given for the sharp downward revision of the weight.
"This is the greatest number of tons of cocaine ever seized," Mr Santos told reporters. The haul remains the largest drugs seizure in Colombia so far this year.
The drugs were discovered when the Colombian navy intercepted several speedboats off the Pacific coast near the border with Panama.
Although no-one was arrested after the seizure, the drugs are believed to belong to one of the country's largest drugs cartels, the Norte del Valle group.Although no-one was arrested after the seizure, the drugs are believed to belong to one of the country's largest drugs cartels, the Norte del Valle group.
Colombia is the world's largest producer of cocaine, supplying 90% of the drug produced in the US alone.Colombia is the world's largest producer of cocaine, supplying 90% of the drug produced in the US alone.
Earlier this month, the US drug enforcement agency announced its biggest maritime seizure of more than 17 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated street value of $500m.