Overview
- Tampa’s crew, which offloaded the drugs Thursday at Base Miami Beach, counted about 3,825 pounds valued above $28.7 million, an amount the Coast Guard says could kill more than 1.4 million people.
- The cocaine came from two interdictions in international waters of the Eastern Pacific carried out under Operation Pacific Viper, a focused counter-narcotics push along major smuggling routes.
- Multiple teams supported the missions, including the cutter Tampa, the Coast Guard’s Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, Joint Interagency Task Force South for detection, and watchstanders in the Southeast and Southwest districts.
- Since early August, the surge has produced more than 215,000 pounds seized and 160 suspected traffickers detained, with a February operation alone accounting for a 200,000‑pound seizure.
- Roughly 80% of U.S.-bound drug stops happen at sea, so catching loads offshore can strip cartels of revenue and keep cocaine from reaching U.S. communities as deployments continue under DHS leadership.