Editor’s note: All Coast Guard Southeast imagery can be found on DVIDS, here. 

Offload b-roll can be found, here.

Case imagery can be found: Eastern Pacific, Caribbean

Case video can be found: 

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant interdicts over 1,615 pounds of illicit drugs in the Caribbean

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton interdicts over 4,475 pounds of illicit drugs in Eastern Pacific

MIAMI – The U.S. Coast Guard achieved a historic milestone with the offload of 76,140 pounds of illicit narcotics, valued at $473 million, marking the largest quantity of drugs offloaded in Coast Guard history, in Port Everglades, Monday.

Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton’s crew offloaded approximately 61,740 pounds of cocaine and approximately 14,400 pounds of marijuana. 

This combined illegal narcotics offload prevented the maritime flow of approximately 23 million potential lethal doses from reaching the United States.

“The U.S. Coast Guard in partnership with our federal, DoD, and international partners are offloading 61,740 pounds of cocaine, and this represents a significant victory in the fight against transnational criminal organizations, highlighting our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation from illicit trafficking and its devastating impacts,” said Rear Adm. Adam Chamie, Coast Guard Southeast District commander. “To put this into perspective, the potential 23 million lethal doses of cocaine seized by the U.S. Coast Guard and our partners, are enough to fatally overdose the entire population of the state of Florida, underscoring the immense threat posed by transnational drug trafficking to our nation.”

The seized contraband was the result of 19 interdictions in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

On June 26, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted two suspicious go-fast vessels approximately 115 miles southeast of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Hamilton’s embarked Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics resulting in Hamilton’s boarding team interdicting both vessels, seizing more than 8,800 pounds of cocaine.

On June 27, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 125 miles southeast of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Hamilton’s embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics allowing Hamilton’s boarding team to interdict the vessel, seizing more than 4,330 pounds of cocaine.

On June 30, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 87 miles north of Bonaire. A Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 408 crew deployed on USS Cole interdicted the vessel, seizing approximately 2,425 pounds of cocaine.

On July 3, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 15 miles north of Aragua, Venezuela. A LEDET 404 crew deployed on the Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS Friesland interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 5,450 pounds of cocaine.

On July 11, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 17 miles northeast of Silva, Venezuela. Friesland’s embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics, and an embarked LEDET 404 boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing 9,088 pounds of marijuana.

On July 21, Hamilton’s embarked unmanned aircraft system crew spotted suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 600 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico. Hamilton’s embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics, and Hamilton’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 3,395 pounds of cocaine.

On July 23, Hamilton’s crew detected and boarded a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 88 miles southeast of Socorro Island, Mexico. Hamilton’s embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics, and Hamilton’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 9,160 pounds of cocaine.

On July 25, a maritime patrol aircraft notified Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant’s crew of a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 180 miles south of the Dominican Republic. Vigilant’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 1,410 pounds of cocaine and 80 pounds of marijuana.

On Aug. 2, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 52 miles north of Carabobo, Venezuela. Friesland’s embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics, and an embarked LEDET 404 boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing 2,615 pounds of marijuana.

On Aug. 2, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 640 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico. Hamilton’s embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics, and Hamilton’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 4,110 pounds of cocaine.

On Aug. 5, Hamilton’s embarked UAS crew detected a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 543 miles southeast of Clipperton Island. Hamilton’s embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics, and Hamilton’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 4,210 pounds of cocaine.

On Aug. 6, Hamilton’s embarked UAS crew detected a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 625 miles southeast of Clipperton Island. Hamilton’s embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics, and Hamilton’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 4,375 pounds of cocaine.

On Aug. 7, Coast Guard Cutter Diligence’s crew detected and boarded a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 136 miles southwest of Negril, Jamaica. Diligence’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing 1,500 pounds of marijuana.

On Aug 7, Hamilton’s embarked UAS crew detected a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 750 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico. Hamilton’s embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use of force tactics, and Hamilton’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 20 pounds of cocaine.

On Aug 7, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 100 miles north of Aruba. A LEDET 108 crew deployed on USS Minneapolis Saint-Paul interdicted the vessel, seizing approximately 2,700 pounds of cocaine.

On Aug 8, Hamilton’s embarked UAS crew detected a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 750 miles south of Acapulco, Mexico. Hamilton’s embarked HITRON air crew employed airborne use of force tactics, and Hamilton’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 4,145 pounds of cocaine.

On Aug 15, a maritime patrol aircraft notified Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant’s crew of a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 35 miles southwest of Haiti. Vigilant’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 1,615 pounds of marijuana.

On Aug 18, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 130 miles south of Jamaica. USS Minneapolis Saint-Paul’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing approximately 6,425 pounds of cocaine.

On Aug 18, HNLMS Friesland’s crew detected a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 20 miles west of Curacao. Friesland’s boarding team seized approximately 700 pounds of cocaine.

The following assets and crews were involved in the interdiction operations:

• U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton

• U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant

• U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Diligence

• U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) Jacksonville

• U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team-Pacific (PAC-TACLET)

• U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team-South (TACLET-South)

• USS Minneapolis Saint-Paul

• USS Cole

• The Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS Friesland

• Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S)

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (CBP-AMO) aircrews

• Southeast Coast Guard District watchstanders

• Southwest Coast Guard District watchstanders

“Team Hamilton with our partners, worked incredibly hard the last several months to safeguard the American public from the dangers of illicit narcotics entering the United States,” said Capt. John B. McWhite, commanding officer, Hamilton. “This outstanding group of professionals achieved unparalleled results in our nation’s fight against transnational criminal drug organizations. The crew interdicted 11 go-fast vessels, detained 34 suspected drug traffickers, and seized a record 47,000 pounds of cocaine. The commitment and sacrifice of our deployed service members and their families, who forego time together for the protection of our Nation, are to be celebrated.”

Detecting and interdicting illicit drug traffickers on the high seas involves significant interagency and international coordination because 80% of drugs are interdicted on the high seas. U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Interagency Task Force – South based in Key West conducts the detection and monitoring of 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.

To protect the Homeland from ongoing trafficking of illicit narcotics from South America to the United States, the Coast Guard is accelerating our counter-drug operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in support of Operation Pacific Viper.

The Coast Guard continues increased operations to interdict, seize and disrupt transshipments of cocaine and other bulk illicit drugs by sea. These drugs fuel and enable cartels and transnational criminal organizations to produce and traffic illegal fentanyl, threatening the United States.

These interdictions deny criminal organizations more than half a billion dollars in illicit revenue. They provide critical testimonial and drug evidence as well as key intelligence for their total elimination. These interdictions relate to Panama Express Strike Force investigations in support of Operation Take Back America. PANEX identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.

Hamilton is one of four 418-foot Legend-class national security cutters homeported in Charleston, South Carolina under U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command.

For more information, follow U.S. Coast Guard Southeast on “X” (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram, and find U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Southwest on “X” (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram.

Visit GoCoastGuard.com to learn about active duty and reserve, officer and enlisted opportunities in the U.S. Coast Guard. Information on how to apply to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy can be found here.

For breaking news, find press releases and contact information for our regional public affairs offices here: U.S. Coast Guard News by Region.

-USCG-

The Coast Guard In-Service Vessel Sustainment (ISVS) Program reached a significant milestone on July 29 with the completion of the major maintenance availability (MMA) program for the 225-foot Juniper-class seagoing buoy tender fleet.

Coast Guard Cutter Hollyhock was the last of the service’s 16 seagoing buoy tenders to have completed the MMA, which executed hull and structural repairs, removed and replaced obsolete, unsupportable and maintenance-intensive equipment, and updated the machinery control system, propellers, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. Hollyhock remains at Coast Guard Yard, where the MMA work was completed, so the ceremony marking completion of the seagoing buoy tender MMA program was held aboard the cutter.

The ISVS program restores mission readiness, improves reliability and reduces maintenance costs of the service’s legacy cutter fleet through two types of projects: major maintenance availabilities and service life extension programs. These programs offer the most cost-effective solution for delivering essential maintenance and upgrades, ensuring Coast Guard surface vessels meet or exceed their expected service life.

“This outstanding accomplishment highlights the Coast Guard’s commitment to delivering reliable, mission-ready vessels both efficiently and cost-effectively,” said Kenneth King, program manager for ISVS. “Completing these 16 major maintenance availabilities on time and under budget exemplifies the service’s strategic approach to recapitalization, ensuring greater operational availability, reduced lifecycle costs and enhanced readiness to meet the Coast Guard’s critical missions.”

Commissioned in the late 1990s, the Coast Guard’s fleet of 225-foot seagoing buoy tenders began undergoing MMA work in 2015 to ensure each cutter achieves its full 30-year designed service life.

The seagoing buoy tenders are a multi-mission platform, with their primary mission to service aids to navigation throughout U.S. waters and wherever American shipping interests require assistance. The Coast Guard’s history of maintaining a fleet of seagoing buoy tenders dates back to the U.S. Lighthouse Service, one of the predecessor agencies that comprise the modern-day Coast Guard.

For more information: In-Service Vessel Sustainment Program page

ALAMEDA, Calif. — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) crew returned to their home port on Coast Guard Base Alameda, California, Sunday, following a 70-day patrol operating along the Southwest maritime boundary line (MBL) near San Diego.

Bertholf deployed in support of Operation Border Trident, Coast Guard District Southwest’s (CGD-SW) standing operation to counter-illicit maritime activity along the Southwest MBL.

Operation Border Trident is a Coast Guard-led interagency approach to detection, monitoring, interdiction, and apprehension operations to combat transnational criminal organizations and illegal alien activity in the California Coastal Region. Bertholf increased Coast Guard operational presence in the area, maintaining border control and territorial integrity of the United States.

While at sea executing Operation Border Trident, Bertholf conducted 86 security boardings and queries in the vicinity of San Diego, checking more than 250 IDs and inspecting closed cabin vessels to thwart illegal activity. This included more than 250-crew hours deployed in Bertholf’s cutter response boats, providing law enforcement presence and deterrence on the Southwest MBL.

Departing Alameda on June 2, Bertholf conducted a change of command followed by an annual readiness assessment and training in San Diego prior to deploying to their assigned operating area. On June 9, 2025, Capt. Andrew Pate relieved Capt. Billy Mees as Bertholf’s 10th commanding officer.

Beginning on June 10, under the guidance of Afloat Training Organization San Diego, Bertholf conducted the first full Basic Cutter Operations assessment for the Legend-Class national security cutter fleet which included two weeks of drills, evaluations, and training reviews. The crew was tested against simulated shipboard fires and flooding in both the in port and underway environments, as well as shipboard emergencies in various tactical scenarios. Bertholf displayed high proficiency in several complex ship evolutions, including mooring, unmooring, and anchoring. Scoring a 95% average across all training areas, Bertholf earned certifications in naval warfare, damage control, seamanship, navigation, medical, and engineering proficiency.

Bertholf was twice diverted to respond to search and rescue tasking, a core responsibility that remains a sacred trust between the U.S. Coast Guard and the maritime public. The first case involved the search for a downed aircraft about 460 miles off San Diego. Bertholf conducted search patterns, including flying its embarked small, unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) and used one of its cutter response boats as part of a multi-service search effort.

Later in the deployment, Bertholf received tasking from Coast Guard Sector San Diego to respond to a person in the water 36 miles west of San Diego reported to be experiencing medical distress. Once on scene, Bertholf response boat crewmembers safely recovered the person in distress and brought them aboard Bertholf for initial medical care. Onboard health services technicians provided medical evaluations and care to stabilize the survivor until they were transferred to Emergency Medical Personnel for further care in San Diego.

“Bertholf’s crew displayed exceptional proficiency and professionalism recovering the survivor, stabilizing their condition, and conducting a smooth transfer via cutter boat to waiting EMS at Sector San Diego for further transfer to higher level care,” said Capt. Andrew Pate, commanding officer of Bertholf.

To maintain the cutter’s shipboard helicopter operation proficiency, Bertholf conducted 180 helicopter deck landings with U.S. Coast Guard Air Stations (AIRSTA) San Diego and Ventura aircrews. Bertholf also completed 24 fast rope exercises with AIRSTA Ventura and U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team West. Coordination of flight operations provided critical training and proficiency opportunities for helicopter crews and Bertholf’s crew, supporting their ability to respond to emergencies requiring shipboard helicopter operations both during the day and at night.

Routinely operating independently, far from other U.S. Coast Guard cutters, Bertholf capitalized on several unexpected opportunities to rendezvous at sea with multiple cutters deployed from other districts.

Teaming with the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active (WMEC 618) early in the deployment, the cutters ran several small boat exercises to certify Bertholf’s boarding teams for law enforcement operations.

Later, while transiting south to evade a hurricane in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, Bertholf rendezvoused with the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Storis (WAGB 21), the first polar icebreaker acquired by the U.S. Coast Guard in over 25 years. Storis was partway through its maiden voyage and briefly conducted formation steaming with Bertholf.

Finally, Bertholf capitalized on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Eagle’s (WIX 327) visit to the west coast, coordinating a passenger exchange for 36 crew members and formation steaming. Eagle is a 295-foot, three-masted barque used exclusively as a training vessel for future officers of the United States Coast Guard. Bertholf and Eagle were briefly joined by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Florence Finch (WPC 1157), one of the Coast Guard’s newest 154-foot Fast Response Cutters.

During this deployment, Bertholf had several opportunities to interact with Department of Defense and international partners. While on a port visit in San Diego, Bertholf’s crew hosted the 89th Military Police Brigade and the 716th Military Police Battalion, strengthening relationships between the land and maritime services and enhanced their understanding of domain awareness capabilities in support of Operation Border Trident.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the Bertholf crew,” said Pate. “Their proficiency, professionalism, and pride throughout this deployment reflect a selfless commitment to defeating adversaries and providing security for the American people we serve.”

Bertholf is named for Commodore Ellsworth Price Bertholf, the Coast Guard’s first Commandant. Commodore Bertholf’s most notable service was his role in the famous Alaska Overland Expedition in 1897. When over 265 American whalers became trapped in ice at Point Barrow, Bertholf led the relief party 1,600 miles via dogsled. Along with Lt. David Jarvis and Dr. Samuel Call, Bertholf herded almost 400 reindeer through a frozen Alaska winter to feed the starving whalers, an act that would later earn him the Congressional Gold Medal.

Homeported in Alameda, Bertholf was commissioned on August 4, 2008, as the Coast Guard’s first Legend-class national security cutter. National security cutters are 418-feet long, 54-feet wide, and have a 4,600 long-ton displacement. They have a top speed of 28 knots, a range of 12,000 nautical miles, and can hold a crew of up to 170. Bertholf routinely conducts operations throughout the Pacific, where the cutter’s combination of range, speed, and ability to operate in extreme-weather conditions provides the mission flexibility necessary to conduct vital strategic missions. The ship’s motto is “Legends Begin Here.”