WASHINGTON – The U.S. Coast Guard announced Thursday it has seized more than 200,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean since launching Operation Pacific Viper in early August.
The Coast Guard reached this milestone following recent interdictions of 13,337 pounds of cocaine by Coast Guard Cutter Seneca and 13,263 pounds by Coast Guard Cutter Robert Ward.
“Operation Pacific Viper has proven to be a crucial weapon in the fight against foreign drug traffickers and cartels in Latin America and has sent a clear message that we will disrupt, dismantle, and destroy their deadly business exploits wherever we find it,” said U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “The more than 75 million lethal doses seized during this operation will never reach our schools and neighborhoods to poison our children or tear apart American families. In cutting off the flow of these deadly drugs, the Coast Guard is saving American lives and delivering on President Trump's promise to Make America Safe Again and reestablish our maritime dominance.”
With 1.2 grams of cocaine being a potentially lethal dose, the total seized through Operation Pacific Viper equates to more than 75 million potentially deadly doses kept off U.S. streets. Eighty percent of all seizures of U.S.-bound narcotics occur at sea, underscoring the impact of Coast Guard maritime interdiction efforts.
“Each Coast Guard drug seizure far from our borders prevents deadly drugs from reaching our communities and disrupts the profit that fuels narco-terrorists,” said Admiral Kevin Lunday, Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. "The success of Operation Pacific Viper proves that we own the sea, and the proficiency, vigilance, and heart of our crews is our greatest strength."
Since its inception, Operation Pacific Viper has accelerated counter-drug operations in the Eastern Pacific, a primary corridor for narcotics smuggling from Central and South America. The Coast Guard has surged cutters, aircraft and tactical teams to interdict, seize and disrupt the flow of cocaine and other illicit drugs. These efforts are a critical component of the broader U.S. strategy to combat narco-terrorism and dismantle transnational criminal organizations.
Recent operations have highlighted the effectiveness of this approach, including record-setting interdictions. In December, the Coast Guard marked a significant achievement by seizing 150,000 pounds of cocaine and interdicting a drug smuggling vessel carrying more than 20,000 pounds of cocaine, highlighting the sustained effectiveness of Operation Pacific Viper.
The Coast Guard’s persistent operations and rapid response have resulted in record seizure amounts, denying criminal organizations billions in illicit revenue and preventing the flow of dangerous drugs into American communities.
Detecting and interdicting narco-terrorism on the high seas involves significant interagency and international coordination. U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Interagency Task Force-South, based in Key West, Florida, detects and monitors both aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs. Once interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the U.S. Coast Guard throughout the interdiction and apprehension. Interdictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean are performed by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Coast Guard’s Southwest District, headquartered in Alameda, California.
The Coast Guard is the United States’ lead federal agency for maritime drug interdiction. We are part of the Department of Homeland Security team protecting our nation and are at all times a military service and part of the joint force defending it.
For media inquiries contact mediarelations@uscg.mil.
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About the U.S. Coast Guard
With more than 95,000 miles of shoreline, 25,000 miles of navigable rivers and 4.5 million square miles of U.S. exclusive economic zone, the U.S. Coast Guard defends the Nation, protects the marine transportation system, regulates and safeguards ports and waterways, leads the Nation in maritime drug interdiction and secures the maritime border. As a member of the joint force, a law enforcement organization, a regulatory agency and a member of the U.S. intelligence community, the Coast Guard employs a unique mix of authorities to ensure the safety and integrity of the maritime domain to protect the economic and national security of the nation. More than 76,000 members of the Coast Guard operate a multi-mission, interoperable fleet of more than 220 cutters, 185 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, 1,300 boats and its own dedicated cyber command to protect critical maritime infrastructure.
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