Authorities in Latin America have arrested 14,260 people and confiscated about 200 tons of cocaine, as part of a major operation led by the International Police Organization (Interpol). 

In the period from March 12 to April 2, the authorities confiscated 203 tons of cocaine and other drugs - the value of which reaches about 5.7 billion dollars. 

During the operation, more than 8,200 illegal weapons and 305,000 cartridges were confiscated. 

The operation is said to have taken place in 15 countries. In total, authorities have busted 20 criminal groups, including Brazilian crime syndicate Primeiro Comando da Capital, Salvadoran youth gang Mara Salvatrucha and the Balkan Cartel, which is also active in South America. 

"The fact that an arms confiscation operation has resulted in the seizure of such a large amount of drugs proves that these crimes are interconnected," Interpol Secretary General Jurgen Stock said. 

"Organized crime networks, with all their illegal activities, have only one priority, profit. We, as law enforcement officials, must show determination to destroy these groups in every region of the world," Stock said, among other things.