The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and its international partners have seized 12,471 pounds of cocaine, valued at over $141 million, following multiple drug interdictions in the Caribbean. On Thursday morning, the USCG offloaded the confiscated narcotics at Coast Guard Station Miami Beach, marking a significant blow to transnational drug smuggling operations.
The massive haul was the result of six coordinated interdictions conducted by U.S. and international maritime forces, including:
- USCG Valiant
- USCG Joseph Doyle
- Royal Netherlands Navy HNLMS Groningen
- Royal Canadian Navy HMCS Harry DeWolf
- USCG Tactical Law Enforcement Team Pacific
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations
How Authorities Seized the Cocaine
Over the last two months, authorities intercepted the narcotics in open waters using planes, thermal imaging, and high-speed boats. The operations demonstrated the skill and training of Coast Guard personnel in pursuing and disabling smuggling vessels.
USCG Machinery Technician Colton Howell described the dramatic chase:
“When they zig, we zig. When they zag, we zag.”
He detailed how officers engaged smugglers at sea, using spotlights to illuminate vessels and issuing stop commands. When suspects failed to comply, Coast Guard personnel were forced to disable their boats, ensuring the contraband never reached its intended destination.
Largest Drug Bust of the Patrol
According to Howell, this seizure was the largest he has witnessed during a single patrol. The detention of 17 suspected smugglers underscores the expanding efforts to dismantle drug trafficking networks in the region. At least one smuggling route traced back to Puerto Rico, highlighting the complexity of the narcotics trade.
“It’s not getting into America,” Howell said. “It’s staying off the streets and out of the hands of the American people.”
Next Steps: DEA Takes Over Investigation
The seized cocaine has been handed over to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for further investigation. Authorities are also examining whether the intercepted shipments contained additional substances like fentanyl, a growing concern in the U.S. drug crisis.
With continued vigilance, the U.S. Coast Guard remains committed to stopping narcotics smuggling at sea, preventing drugs from reaching communities and funding criminal organizations.
