Operation Martillo

[1] It is a defense project led by the United States Southern Command with help of multi-national forces from Latin American and European countries.

[6] In May 2015, Colombia announced it was stopping using a controversial herbicide to destroy plantations of coca following a warning by the World Health Organization (WHO) that glyphosate is "probably carcinogenic".

[8] Granting permission for U.S. forces to use El Salvador as a base in the hunt for illegal drug shipments has allowed groups like Patrol Squadron 8 to fly missions from the country.

Between January 2012 and April 2013, the operation intercepted 171 tons of cocaine and 28,000 pounds of marijuana; detained 411 criminal suspects; recovered US $7.4 million in laundered cash; and seized or destroyed 139 speedboats, fishing vessels, aircraft, pangas, and drug-trafficking Submersibles.

[25] Between January 2012 and February 2017, 693 tons of cocaine, US $25 million in cash, 581 vessels and aircraft were detained and 1,863 detainees were arrested.

Marine Gen. John Kelly said, "Because of asset shortfalls, we’re unable to get after 74 percent of suspected maritime drug smuggling.

Allied and Partner Nation's vessels and aircraft were often being used to spot, identify and monitor potential smugglers before passing the information to US intercepts.

[19] The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNOCD) estimates the 2013 annual world production of cocaine to have been between 660 and 900 tons.