Luxury-Branded Narcotics Found in Seaweed Stash

Quintana Roo, Mexico — The National Guard (GN) and the Secretary of Defense (Sedena) have seized 20 packages of drugs concealed among sargassum seaweed on the beaches of Quintana Roo. The packages, wrapped in blue plastic and sealed with transparent tape, were marked with interwoven "LV" letters.

The first discovery was made on August 15 at Punta Morena Beach, where 12 packages were found. An additional eight packages were uncovered at Bosh Beach on August 27.

According to local authorities, the GN and Sedena members were conducting a routine surveillance and crime prevention patrol along the coastal strip towards Punta Sur when they stumbled upon the packages. The packages were found hidden among the sargassum and near the edge of the beach.

The markings on the packages suggest a connection to criminal groups such as the Sinaloa Cartel and "Los Chapitos". These groups are known to use luxury brand logos to mark the drugs they traffic. The "LV" marking is often used to reference the French brand Louis Vuitton. Other symbols and abbreviations are used to denote the quality of the illegal product. For instance, the Sinaloa Cartel has been reported to use common symbols like crowns and deer, recognizable brands like Ford and Coca-Cola, and even “lucky numbers” like 777 or CR7, the latter being a reference to soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo.

The authorities believe that someone had initially found the packages and, upon realizing their contents, abandoned them. One of the packages had broken open, revealing a white powder substance. The National Guard described the packages as "12 rectangular parcels wrapped in blue plastic, each measuring about 22 centimeters long, 14 cm wide, and 4 cm thick."

Following the discovery, the area was cordoned off and the packages were collected and transferred to the General Prosecutor's Office (FGR) in the municipality of Solidaridad. Drug packages washing ashore are a common occurrence along the coasts of Cozumel, a known route for criminal gangs trafficking narcotics, including cocaine and marijuana.

The National Guard and the Mexican Army have reiterated their commitment to protecting citizens by preventing the distribution of harmful substances that pose a threat to public health.