Harfuch responds to Bukele's accusations about the cocaine plane: "We reiterate our respect for El Salvador." Harfuch and Bukele Spar Over Cocaine Seizure In Tecoman, Coliman.

 CHAR 

JULY 10, 2025 

THIS INFORMATION WAS POSTED BY INFOBAE 

The Central American president requested that the Secretary of Security correct the information regarding a small plane seized in Colima.

By: Andrés Martínez

Photo: SSPC

The Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), Omar García Harfuch, corrected the information that the seized aircraft carrying nearly half a ton of cocaine was located off El Salvador heading toward Mexico and not originating from the Central American country, as he stated on July 8 from the National Palace.

On Wednesday afternoon, El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele asked Secretary Harfuch to rectify his July 8 report, stating that an aircraft from the Central American country was seized in Tecomán, Colima.

"In Tecomán, Colima, as a result of surveillance and protection of Mexican airspace, personnel from the National Center for Surveillance and Airspace Protection detected an aircraft from El Salvador carrying 428 kilos of cocaine, and three people were arrested. The value of the drugs is 96 million pesos," Harfuch explained during the "People's Morning Press Conference" conference.

The aircraft landed on a clandestine airstrip in the state of Colima. Photo: Special

However, the Salvadoran president clarified that the aircraft never flew through his airspace.

“On July 3, at 1:00 p.m., Costa Rica reported a suspicious aircraft track northwest of its territory. They activated the regional alert through APAN, a Central American air safety network. According to their own report, the aircraft track entered Costa Rica, briefly disappeared from radar, and then reappeared, heading out into the Pacific,” Bukele wrote on his X account.

Photo: @nayibbukele

He added that his "radars did not record any aerial contact within our airspace."

In his post, the Salvadoran president attached an image showing the plane's route: "very south of El Salvador and Nicaragua, with no proximity to national airspace. The route was also confirmed by JIATFS Key West (USA), which monitors illicit air traffic in the region."

"Their report is clear: the aircraft flew over the Pacific Ocean and never touched Salvadoran territory."

He stated that "El Salvador does not hide criminals or tolerate drug trafficking; we didn't do that before, and we won't do that now. Nor will we allow them to try to involve us in operations that are not our responsibility or ours."

Federal authorities reported that three people were arrested during the operation. Photo: Special

Therefore, he demanded that the "Government of Mexico immediately clarify and correct the statements made by its Secretary, Omar García Harfuch."

Later, the secretary responded to the Central American president and changed the word "originating," mentioned at the July 8 conference, to "altitude" above El Salvador.

"At 1:00 p.m. on July 3, 2025, CENAVi personnel detected a trace of interest 200 km south of San Salvador, El Salvador, as can be seen in the aircraft tracking graph."

Photo: @OHarfuch

He stated that in response to this information, CENAVI ordered aircraft to take off from various Military Air Bases to intercept the clandestine route toward the probable landing sites (Tecomán, Colima).

"Three people were arrested, and 427.65 kilograms of cocaine and the aircraft were seized. Indeed, the detainees are Mexican nationals and are being prosecuted for various crimes."

"We reiterate our respect and appreciation for the people of El Salvador," the Mexican secretary concluded his message.

SOURCE: INFOBAE