U.S. Coast Guard seizes more than 76,000 pounds of narcotics in largest drug offload at Port Everglades

• The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded 76,140 pounds of seized narcotics, including over 61,000 pounds of cocaine and 15,000 pounds of marijuana, at Port Everglades on Aug. 25, marking the largest drug offload in its history.
• The haul was the result of 19 interdictions across the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean, involving multiple Coast Guard cutters and international partners.
• The offload is part of Operation Pacific Viper, a large-scale surge targeting drug and human smuggling before it reaches U.S. shores through increased patrols and international coordination.
• Initial operations near the Galapagos Islands and north of Bonaire in late June resulted in the seizure of over 11,000 pounds of cocaine, with additional interdictions occurring throughout July and August in multiple Caribbean locations.
• Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem emphasized that 80 percent of drug seizures occur at sea, and the operation reflects the administration’s aggressive strategy to disrupt cartels and transnational criminal organizations.

The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded more than 76,000 pounds of seized narcotics at Port Everglades on Monday, Aug. 25.

According to the official statement of the U.S. Coast Guard, the drugs were intercepted during maritime patrols to disrupt transnational criminal organizations trafficking drugs by sea. The operations involved multiple Coast Guard cutters and international partners. (Related: CBP officers find cocaine, meth hidden in children’s board game bound for London.)

“Today we are witness to the largest drug offload in Coast Guard history, a total of 76,140 pounds of illegal narcotics,” U.S. Coast Guard Rear Adm. Adam Chamie said. “These men and women put themselves in harm’s way time and again to stop the bad guys, apprehend the smugglers and seize the drugs. This is grueling and dangerous work, and I am extremely proud of them.”

Footage released by the Coast Guard captured the intensity of the interdictions. In one video, a suspected smuggler aboard a small vessel is seen desperately tossing bundles of drugs overboard while being chased by crew members from the Cutter Hamilton, who ultimately intercepted and detained the individual.

“The 61,740 pounds of cocaine represent 23 million potentially lethal doses, that’s enough to fatally overdose the entire population of the state of Florida,” Chamie said.

Pallet by pallet, crews from several Coast Guard cutters unloaded the contraband – 61,740 pounds of cocaine and 15,000 pounds of marijuana – from their ships in Fort Lauderdale. According to Chamie, the cocaine alone equates to an estimated 23 million potentially lethal doses.

This staggering haul, over 38 tons of cocaine and marijuana, was the result of 19 successful interdictions across the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean over the course of several months.

Coast Guard launches Operation Pacific Viper to target drug and human smuggling in Eastern Pacific

The operation is part of the Coast Guard’s Operation Pacific Viper, a large-scale maritime surge that intercepts illegal activity before it reaches American shores.

As per Brighteon.AI’s Enoch, the operation involves increased patrols, inspections and coordination with local and international partners in the Pacific region to counter threats such as drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

“Eighty percent of illicit drug seizures occur at sea. The U.S. Coast Guard is surging maritime interdictions in the Eastern Pacific to stop the cartels and criminal organizations, cutting off drugs and human smuggling before it reaches American shores,” said Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem.

The initial phase of Operation Pacific Viper has already resulted in significant drug seizures.

On June 26, a U.S. maritime patrol aircraft spotted two suspicious vessels near the Galapagos Islands, leading to the interception and seizure of over 4,475 pounds of cocaine by the Coast Guard. The next day, another vessel in the same area was interdicted, resulting in the confiscation of 4,354 additional pounds. On June 30, a third vessel was located approximately 87 miles north of Bonaire, where a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment aboard the USS Cole seized about 2,425 pounds of cocaine.

In the following weeks, enforcement efforts expanded across the Caribbean, with further drug seizures near Venezuela, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Aruba, Haiti and Curaçao. While the total amount of narcotics seized under the operation has not yet been disclosed, officials report that the mission is already disrupting cartel operations.

Watch this Feb. 20 episode of “Brighteon Broadcast News” as Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, talks about the USA military to wage war on drug cartels.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

CIA deploys drones over Mexico to spy on drug cartels, upping stakes in narcotics war.

55 Tons of meth ingredient seized at Port of Long Beach in California.

Trump authorizes military action against terrorist-designated DRUG CARTELS.

California drug dealer used a drone to deliver fentanyl and other illegal drugs to customers.

Newsom deploys 50% more California National Guardsmen along U.S.-Mexico border to combat drug trafficking, but won’t halt illegal immigration.

Sources include:

100PercentFedUp.com

NBCNewYork.com

WashingtonExaminer.com

Brighteon.AI

DHS.gov

Brighteon.com