In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, Panamanian authorities intercepted a staggering 12 tons of cocaine on a ferry in the Pacific Ocean, marking one of the largest drug seizures in the nation’s history. The operation, conducted on Monday, led to the arrest of 10 individuals, including nationals from Venezuela, Ecuador, and Nicaragua. The ferry had departed from Colombia, a major source of cocaine production, with the U.S. as its intended destination. Panama, a critical transit hub for narcotics from South America, has intensified its anti-drug efforts, seizing a total of 119 metric tons of drugs in 2023 alone. This operation comes amid heightened U.S. military deployment in Latin America, part of a broader anti-drug campaign. However, the initiative has sparked controversy, with Venezuela accusing Washington of using the campaign as a pretext to target its president, Nicolas Maduro. The seizure underscores the ongoing challenges in combating drug trafficking in the region, as Latin American nations strive to demonstrate their commitment to curbing the narcotics trade.