Coast Guard Recovers Bales of Cocaine from Pacific Ocean After Suspected Drug Trafficking Ship Capsizes

The U.S. Coast Guard has seized more than 100,000 pounds of cocaine in the eastern Pacific Ocean in the past two months, the agency said Tuesday, including narcotics from a suspected drug smuggling boat that was seen capsized at sea.

The Coast Guard said it intercepted 34 boats and detained 86 people. The agency has seized an average of 1,600 pounds of cocaine per day, he said. Photos from a news release show multiple seizures, including one that ended with bales of cocaine in the ocean.

The actions are part of Operation Pacific Viper, which accelerated anti-drug operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The Coast Guard has worked with international partners and deployed additional resources, including ships, aircraft and tactical teams, to seize vessels transporting drugs from Central and South America.

Rear Adm. Jeffrey Novak, deputy commander of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Pacific Area, called the seizures “a notable achievement” in the news release.

“When we say the Coast Guard is accelerating counternarcotics operations, we mean it. Together with our partners and allies, our maritime combat force is tracking drug smuggling routes in the Eastern Pacific and dismantling narcoterrorist networks,” Novak said. “We are complementing the Coast Guard’s unique law enforcement authorities with cutting-edge capabilities to stop the flow of deadly drugs that threaten American communities. As we mark our 100,000-pound interdiction, we are already working toward the next milestone.”

The operations have included the seizure of 8,700 kilos of cocaine from a boat traveling from panama at the beginning of September. Many of the drugs have been offloaded by the Coast Guard in record quantities in recent weeks. In some cases, the Coast Guard places the ships carrying the drugs on fire after seizing narcotics and arrest the occupants of the boat. The Coast Guard he told News themezone in September This practice is intended to prevent boats from becoming a danger to other boaters.

The United States has also carried out several drone attacks against ships. allegedly carrying drugs. He fifth and most recent strike took place Tuesday, the same day the Coast Guard announced the drug seizure milestone. Six people aboard the ship died, according to a post by President Trump on Truth Social. In total, 27 people died in the attacks, according to figures released by the Trump administration.

In:

• United States Coast Guard
• Cocaine
• drug bust