The United States Coast Guard has increased its operations in the Eastern Pacific with Operation Pacific Viper, targeting drug cartels and human smuggling organizations before they reach U.S. shores.
Since the start of the operation, Coast Guard crews have intercepted several illegal vessels, seized thousands of pounds of drugs, and detained suspected smugglers. Secretary Kristi Noem stated, “80% 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 Secretary Kristi Noem. “As part of Operation Pacific Viper, USCGC Stone interdicted 2 vessels — seizing 3,497 kilograms of cocaine and detaining 6 Ecuadorian smugglers. MAKE AMERICA SAFE AGAIN!”
Operation Pacific Viper has resulted in more than 13,000 pounds of cocaine being confiscated and 11 suspected traffickers taken into custody.
On August 8th, USCG Cutter Hamilton intercepted a vessel south of Mexico carrying over 4,000 pounds of cocaine and three detainees. On August 11th, a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment on board the USS Sampson stopped another vessel south of Mexico after suspected traffickers attempted to flee by dumping their cargo; two suspects were detained along with more than 1,300 pounds of cocaine after disabling the boat’s engine from a helicopter.
Further actions included an August 16th interdiction by USCG Cutter Stone near the Galapagos Islands where service members disabled a vessel from a helicopter and seized over 3,500 pounds of cocaine along with three detainees. On August 17th, Cutter Stone conducted another interdiction resulting in three arrests and seizure of more than 4,000 pounds of cocaine.
Most recently on August 19th, Cutter Stone seized nearly 3,000 pounds of cocaine from one vessel while USCGC Venturous recovered over 750 pounds that had been jettisoned by another suspect boat.
These operations are part of broader efforts to disrupt transnational criminal organizations’ activities at sea before they can impact communities within the United States.
