WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard announced Tuesday it has seized more than 150,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean since launching Operation Pacific Viper in early August.

With a dose of 1.2 grams of cocaine being enough to kill a person, the amount seized through Operation Pacific Viper equates to over 57 million potentially lethal doses.

“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 them,” U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said. “In cutting off the flow of these deadly drugs, the Coast Guard is saving countless American lives and delivering on President Trump’s promise to Make America Safe Again and reestablish our maritime dominance.”

Through Operation Pacific Viper, the Coast Guard has been accelerating counter-drug operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, where significant transport of illicit narcotics continues from Central and South America. The Coast Guard surged additional assets — cutters, aircraft and tactical teams — to interdict, seize and disrupt transshipments of cocaine and other bulk illicit drugs. Operation Pacific Viper continues the Coast Guard’s efforts to protect the Homeland, counter narco-terrorism and disrupt Foreign Terrorist Organizations, Transnational Criminal Organizations and cartels seeking to produce and traffic illicit drugs into the United States. 80% of all U.S.-bound narcotics seizures occur at sea, highlighting the impact of maritime drug interdiction.

“This milestone is a testament to the vigilance and tenacity of our crews,” said Adm. Kevin Lunday, the Coast Guard’s acting commandant. “When we say we own the sea, it reflects our relentless pursuit to securing the maritime domain and disrupting the criminal networks that threaten our communities.”

Recent operations have highlighted the effectiveness of this surged posture, including multiple record-setting efforts. On Dec. 2, Coast Guard Cutter Munro seized over 20,000 pounds of cocaine in a single interdiction, after utilizing disabling fire on a heavily laden go-fast vessel. This was the Coast Guard’s largest at-sea interdiction since March 2007. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter James executed a remarkable run of four significant seizures across 10 days in November, netting 19,819 pounds of cocaine. This series of interdictions included 9,581 pounds on Nov. 15, 3,225 pounds on Nov. 23, and two separate seizures on Nov. 25 totaling 7,055 in coordination with Coast Guard Cutter Active.

The success of Operation Pacific Viper is marked by unprecedented seizure amounts, demonstrating continued success in the fight against narco-terrorism and Transnational Criminal Organizations. These operations deny smugglers from using Eastern Pacific maritime routes to transport illicit narcotics from South and Central America to the United States. The Coast Guard Cutter Stone made history in November, offloading approximately 49,010 pounds of illicit narcotics worth over $362 million at Port Everglades — the largest single-patrol seizure by any Coast Guard cutter.

These continuous interdictions deny criminal organizations more than $1.1 billion dollars in illicit revenue. By disrupting the flow of cocaine and other bulk illicit drugs, the Coast Guard is cutting off revenue that fuels the ability for narco-terrorists to produce and traffic illegal fentanyl, threatening 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.

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. — The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL 754) returned to their home port in Charleston, Wednesday, following a 92-day deployment conducting counter-narcotics operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in support of Operation Pacific Viper.

During the patrol, the James crew interdicted over 46,500 pounds of narcotics valued at nearly $350 million. The James crew conducted nine interdictions and detained 33 suspected drug traffickers. The patrol focused on disrupting illegal narcotics smuggling in collaboration with international partners.

The James crew worked alongside international partners including Costa Rica, Ecuador, Mexico, and Colombia. The collaboration included multiple partner nation transfers.

To support maritime governance and strengthen international relations, the James crew transferred 22 detainees pier side in Manta, Ecuador, prior to a visit from Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

The James crew worked with the Costa Rican coast guard and national police to transfer two Colombian detainees and offload approximately 9,500 pounds of cocaine in Golfito, Costa Rica. During the visit, James hosted Costa Rican Minister of Security Mario Zamora Cordero.

“I am exceptionally thankful and proud of this crew’s dedication,” said Capt. Thomas Rodzewicz, commanding officer of the James. “Time away from family and missed holidays is never a small sacrifice, but the crew’s time and commitment to combatting narco-terrorism and protecting our nation from illicit drugs crossing our borders are highlighted by the success of this patrol.”

The James crew offloaded more than 26,000 pounds of cocaine and 500 pounds of marijuana in Port Everglades, Florida, Monday, before heading home.

Since 2017, Coast Guard Cutter James crewmembers have interdicted 104 shipments totaling 285,140 pounds of cocaine worth $2.11 billion wholesale and 34,539 pounds of marijuana worth $27.8 million wholesale.

James is one of four 418-foot Legend-class national security cutters homeported in Charleston under U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command. The cutter’s primary missions are counter-drug operations and defense readiness.

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.

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HONOLULU – The crew of USCGC Harriet Lane (WMEC 903) returned to Honolulu Saturday following an 81-day patrol in support of Coast Guard Oceania District’s Operation Blue Pacific.

The Harriet Lane crew departed Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in September to conduct joint operations and territorial integrity missions across Oceania. Patrolling more than 16,000 nautical miles throughout Oceania to include the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, Tonga, and American Samoa, the cutter’s crew worked alongside interagency and Pacific Island partners to deter transnational criminal organization activities, facilitate the flow of commerce, and protect critical ocean resources.

“This patrol was a resounding success for the crew of Harriet Lane and reinforced the Coast Guard’s commitment as a trusted partner across Oceania,” said Cmdr. Justin Matejka, commanding officer, Harriet Lane. “It was a pleasure to partner with the many professional officers from multiple Pacific Island Countries to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing and transnational criminal organization activity. I am proud of the crew’s incredible commitment to operational success and look forward to being a part of Harriet Lane’s growing impact across the region.”

The Harriet Lane crew exercised partnerships with the Marshall Islands, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, and Tonga through bilateral maritime law enforcement agreements, professional exchanges, and domestic federal maritime law enforcement operations. In total, the Harriet Lane crew and Pacific Island enforcement officers conducted 31 boardings of fishing vessels, resulting in 20 potential violations.

The crew conducted 15 additional high seas boarding and inspections on commercial fishing vessels, resulting in 2 potential violations of conservation and management measures under the Western and Central Fisheries Commission.

Enhancing diplomatic relationships within the Pacific Quadrilateral Defence Coordinating Group, the Harriet Lane crew also integrated Royal New Zealand Navy sea riders for a portion of the patrol.

Harriet Lane’s visit to Tonga included strategic discussions with Defense and Foreign Minister, Crown Prince Tupouto’a ‘Ulukalala, focusing on enhancing bilateral cooperation to address maritime security threats and counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activity in the region.

Commissioned in 1984, Harriet Lane is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Honolulu to support Coast Guard missions in the Pacific region. The service’s medium endurance cutter fleet supports a variety of Coast Guard missions including search and rescue, law enforcement, maritime defense, and protection of the marine environment.

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