$150 Million Worth of Cocaine Seize in Colombia

INTERNATIONAL: The Colombian navy has seized four tonnes of cocaine being transported onboard a semi-submersible vessel in the south Pacific; officials said on Monday,February 7.

According to the authorities, four people were on board the submarine intercepted at the Pacific Ocean. It was headed for the coast of Central America.

The navy has said that the operation has prevented the trafficking and consumption of more than 10 million doses of cocaine in neighbouring countries, valued at $150 million and distributed by the FARC's dissident group "Bloque Occidental Alfonso Cano.”

When the 49 feet vessel was inspected, 200 sacks were found containing several rectangular packages, which were then transferred to the dock of the Tumaco coast guard station, where members of the Technical Investigation Corps of the Prosecutor's Office have tested the substance in the packages to confirm it was cocaine.

Despite decades fighting drug trafficking, Colombia remains one of the world's top producers of cocaine.

Indonesian Crocodile Freed After Having Tyre Stuck Around Neck for Six Years

A crocodile in Indonesia that had a motorcycle tyre stuck around its neck for six years was finally freed by a self-taught reptile rescuer on Monday night.

Central Sulawesi province resident Tili, 35, has said, he caught the crocodile after setting up a trap and was asking for help from people but they were scared.

After capturing the reptile, Tili has used a small saw to cut the tyre.

The crocodile had been elusive, only rarely resurfacing in the water, Tili has said. He set up a basic trap with a rope tied to a log with live chickens and ducks as bait. After tracking the reptile for three weeks, it has appeared as though the crocodile would best Tili, as it escaped his trap twice.

The crocodile had evoked sympathy from local residents who worried the tyre would eventually choke it as the reptile grew in size.

In January 2020, provincial conservation authorities had offered an unspecified reward for anyone who could remove the tyre. It's unclear whether Tili will try to claim it.

He said his main motivation was to help animals, even adding this is not his first time dealing with a crocodile.

Colombia Landslide Kills at Least 11 and Injures 35

At least 14 people were killed and 35 injured after a landslide has covered several homes in central Colombia on Tuesday , the country's disaster management agency has reported.

The incident in Dosquebradas, close to the city of Pereira, followed heavy rains in the surrounding coffee-growing province.

The injured are being looked after in nearby hospitals according to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.

Local authorities have evacuated dozens of homes as the Otun river has overflowed.

Landslides are common in Colombia due to mountainous terrain, frequent heavy rains and poor or informal construction of housing.