The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tampa’s crew offloaded about 3,825 pounds of cocaine valued at more than $28.7 million on Apr. 16 at Base Miami Beach, according to an official statement. The drugs, which authorities say were enough to kill over 1.4 million Americans, were seized during two interdictions in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean as part of Operation Pacific Viper.
Officials say these seizures are part of ongoing efforts to combat narcotics smuggling from Central and South America through maritime routes into the United States. The operation is described as a key element in disrupting transnational criminal organizations and reducing the flow of illicit drugs into American communities.
Cmdr. Joshua DiPietro, commanding officer of Tampa, said, “This crew's performance over the last 74 days has been nothing short of phenomenal.” He added, “From qualifying several pilots, tie downs, Landing Safety Officers, and Helicopter Control Officers for aviation operations at the start of the patrol to seizing nearly $45 million in illicit narcotics, their teamwork during complex operations was truly impressive. They met every challenge head-on, working seamlessly with our partner agencies and international allies to disrupt transnational criminal organizations.”
The interdiction involved multiple assets including USCGC Tampa (WMEC 902), Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron personnel, Joint Interagency Task Force South members based in Key West for detection and monitoring activities, as well as watchstanders from both Southeast and Southwest Coast Guard Districts.
Since its launch under President Donald J. Trump’s administration in early August—according to officials—Operation Pacific Viper has resulted in more than 215,000 pounds of cocaine seized and approximately 160 suspected narco-traffickers apprehended by Coast Guard teams. In February alone a record-setting seizure netted some 200,000 pounds of cocaine.
Authorities report that roughly eighty percent of U.S.-bound drug interdictions occur at sea; once detection occurs by Southern Command’s task force or aerial units and interdiction becomes imminent control shifts to the U.S. Coast Guard for law enforcement action throughout apprehension procedures.
The Coast Guard Cutter Tampa is a medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth under Atlantic Area Command.
