80 lb of marijuana seized from 10 suspects in week-long police roundup
Police in Nicaragua seized 80 pounds of marijuana and detained 10 alleged suppliers in six departments during operations from 6 to 12 February 2023. The marijuana was taken in separate cases in Matagalpa, Jinotega, Nueva Segovia, Esteli, Managua and Leon, alongside cocaine seizures not counted here.
Police detained Mario Antonio Salgado Castro in El Tuma-La Dalia, Matagalpa,
seizing 38 pounds of marijuana and two motorcycles.[1]In El Cuá, Jinotega,
police arrested Pablo Martínez Hernández, Juan Junior Herrera Silva and Ana
Yarely Siles Martínez, seizing 21 pounds of marijuana and two motorcycles.[1]In Jalapa, Nueva Segovia, José Miguel Hernández Cárdenas was detained with 10
pounds of marijuana.[1]In Estelí, Mileydi Tatiana Sánchez Medina was captured
with six pounds of marijuana.[1]In Managua, Eddy Orellana Lizano and Leyton
Williams Clair were detained with four pounds of marijuana.[2]In León, José
Miguel García Vásquez and Benito José Lezama Reyes were detained with one pound
of marijuana.[2]
Police put the week’s marijuana total at 80 pounds, about 36.29 kilograms.[2]The same weekly results also included cocaine seizures, which are not counted in
the cannabis total.[2]
The seizures were part of citizen-security operations carried out from 6 to 12
February 2023.[2]Commissioner Major César Cuadra announced the results on
behalf of the National Police.[1]
Photos and video
Detained drug suppliers presented with the weekly police results. Photo: CortesiaPhoto details
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Source: TN8The 21 pounds of marijuana and two motorcycles seized in El Cua, published with the police results.Photo details
No separate dates are given for the individual seizures; 12 February 2023, the end of the 6-12 February operation week, is used as the incident date.
The TN8 account lists only four marijuana cases totalling 75 pounds, while La Nueva Radio YA adds Managua and Leon cases to reach the police total of 80 pounds; the report uses the fuller account.
Names vary between outlets: Mileydi versus Mileydy Sanchez Medina, Pablo Martinez Hernandez versus Pablo Enoy Martinez Hernandez, and Ana Yarely versus Ana Jakarelis Siles Martinez; TN8 spellings are used.
No charges, court steps or outcomes were reported; those held are described only as detained drug suppliers.
Both outlets reproduce the same National Police briefing, so they are not independent accounts.
The TN8 photos are credited only as Cortesia with a generic suppliers caption, so the exact seizure each depicts cannot be confirmed.
Nicaraguan Army troops detained a 22-year-old passenger on the Rio Coco in Ayapal, Jinotega, during a river control operation. They seized five bags of marijuana weighing 1,975.3 grams from a plastic bucket he carried.
On 27 October 2026, Nicaraguan police at El Guasaule found 608 packages with 1,907 kg of cannabis hidden in a Mexico-to-Costa Rica truck. They arrested Guatemalan driver Fredy Bladimiro Recinos Vargas, 52, and seized the tractor and trailer.
Nicaragua's Naval Force seized 359 kg of marijuana and 351 kg of cocaine between August 2025 and July 2026, part of a 710 kg drug total reported for its 46th anniversary. The report named no detainee figure for the seizures.
Police detained six alleged drug suppliers in a wider Managua anti-crime sweep covering 5–11 January 2026, seizing 2 pounds (about 0.907 kg) of marijuana. Police listed the marijuana with 130 grams of cocaine, 72 grams of crack and cash, and spokeswoman Karen Obando presented the results as continuing work to protect people, families and communities.
