The shipment was found approximately 1,600km southwest of El Cordoncillo at the mouth of the Jaltepeque estuary on El Salvador’s Pacific coast, he said.

The seizure comes as US President Donald Trump has declared war on Latin American drug traffickers and declared cartels “terrorist” organizations.

International criminal cartels use Central America as a gateway for drug trafficking, especially cocaine, to the US.

Trump has sent several warships towards Venezuela, accusing the government of being part of the drug trade, and ordered a missile strike on a suspected drug boat, killing 11 people.

The Salvadoran president said the floating packages were valued at US$35 million.

Between 2024 and 2025, El Salvador seized 37.2 tonnes of cocaine with an estimated value of US$932.4 million, Bukele added.

The US embassy in El Salvador praised the operation, emphasising that “each successful action against criminal networks shows that there is a growing synchrony between partners with common goals”.

Washington estimates that 90% of cocaine reaching the US passes through Mexico and Central America via small planes, boats, and mini-submarines.