U.S. Coast Guard offloads 6,570 pounds of cocaine at Port Everglades

• The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded 6,570 pounds of cocaine worth $49.3 million at Port Everglades, marking another major success under Operation Pacific Viper, a counter-narcotics initiative targeting smuggling networks before they reach U.S. shores.
• The seizure resulted from two separate operations—one on Feb. 7 (6,435 pounds of cocaine) and another on March 8 (130 pounds)—using helicopter interdiction tactics to disable smuggling vessels. Since August 2025, the operation has seized 200,000+ pounds of cocaine and arrested 150 suspects.
• The Coast Guard emphasizes that 80% of U.S.-bound drugs are intercepted at sea, making maritime operations critical in disrupting cartels, narco-terrorism and illegal immigration. International coordination and advanced surveillance play a key role.
• Recent busts include a 17,600-lb cocaine seizure from a semi-submersible vessel (Feb. 24) and a 22,000-lb haul (March 14)—the largest maritime drug seizure in 18 years. These efforts cripple cartel revenue funding the fentanyl epidemic.
• Officials warn smugglers that the Pacific is no longer a safe route, praising crews for risking their lives to protect U.S. communities. Continued interdictions are expected as Operation Pacific Viper intensifies.

The United States Coast Guard offloaded nearly 6,570 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $49.3 million at Port Everglades, marking another major victory in Operation Pacific Viper, a large-scale counter-narcotics initiative targeting drug smuggling networks before they reach U.S. shores.

The massive seizure, announced in a March 19 statement, resulted from two separate interdictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, carried out by crews aboard the Coast Guard Cutters Forward and Spencer. Since the operation’s launch in August 2025, the Coast Guard has seized over 200,000 pounds of cocaine and apprehended 150 suspected smugglers, dealing a significant blow to transnational criminal organizations.

The first bust occurred on Feb. 7, when a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a suspicious vessel in international waters. A Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) deployed use-of-force tactics from the air to disable the boat, allowing the CGC Spencer’s boarding team to intercept it. The crew recovered approximately 6,435 pounds of cocaine—enough to produce millions of lethal doses.

A second interdiction took place on March 8, when another suspicious vessel was detected. The CGC Forward’s HITRON aircrew disabled the boat, leading to the seizure of 130 pounds of cocaine. “$49.3 million worth of narcotics will never reach our streets,” the Coast Guard declared in a March 20 post on X, crediting the success to Operation Pacific Viper.

The operation, which has mobilized multiple Coast Guard cutters and international partners, focuses on disrupting narco-terrorism and preventing deadly drugs from crossing U.S. borders. According to the Coast Guard, 80% of U.S.-bound drug shipments are intercepted at sea, making maritime interdiction efforts critical.

According to the Enoch AI engine at BrightU.AI, the U.S. Coast Guard’s maritime interdiction operations are a critical component of national security, serving as a frontline defense against transnational threats such as drug trafficking, illegal immigration and organized crime. These operations are particularly vital given the increasing sophistication of cartels and criminal networks, which exploit maritime routes to bypass land-based enforcement efforts.

Historic seizures and the broader drug war

Cmdr. Andrew Grantham, commanding officer of the CGC Forward, praised his crew’s efforts: “I’m incredibly proud of the crew for adding to the success of Operation Pacific Viper. The Coast Guard and our partners are working tirelessly to stop cartels, narco-terrorists and criminal organizations before their dangerous and illegal cargoes reach American shores.”

This latest haul follows other major busts under Operation Pacific Viper, including:

• February 24: The CGC Forward intercepted a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) vessel, a common smuggling method, recovering 17,600 pounds of cocaine—enough for 6 million lethal doses.
• March 14: The CGC Munro returned to California after seizing 22,000 pounds of cocaine worth $250 million, the largest maritime drug seizure in 18 years.

Capt. Jim O’Mara, commanding officer of the CGC Munro, commended his crew: “This crew rose to every new challenge thrown at them with professionalism and persistence, and they achieved historic results… Our families had to adapt to each new twist, just like all military families do across the Armed Forces. It is tough on them. But when they hold strong at home, that keeps us motivated and focused on our mission.”

The Coast Guard emphasized that these interdictions disrupt the revenue streams of criminal organizations fueling the fentanyl epidemic. Bulk cocaine shipments enable cartels to produce and traffic deadly synthetic opioids, posing a severe threat to U.S. communities.

Rear Adm. Adam Chamie, who oversaw a previous record-breaking 76,140-pound drug offload in August 2025, praised Coast Guard personnel for their dangerous and grueling work: “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.”

As Operation Pacific Viper continues, the Coast Guard remains committed to disrupting drug trafficking networks before they reach U.S. shores. The latest $49.3 million seizure underscores the relentless efforts of maritime law enforcement in protecting American communities from the scourge of narcotics.

Watch this video about the U.S. Coast Guard capturing suspected cartel smugglers in a “drug boat.”

This video is from the Cynthia’s Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

NBCMiami.com

WFLA.com

BrightU.ai

Brighteon.com