The U.S. Coast Guard has offloaded approximately 2,570 pounds of cocaine valued at more than $19.3 million, following three separate drug interdictions conducted in the Caribbean Sea, according to Antigua News Room.
Six suspected drug smugglers were transferred to federal authorities on Thursday at U.S. Coast Guard Base Miami Beach, alongside the seized narcotics.
The drugs were recovered during operations involving the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma and the USS Billings, which carried an embarked Coast Guard law enforcement detachment. The offload itself was carried out by the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute.
The Coast Guard described the operation as part of broader counter-narcotics efforts aimed at disrupting the maritime movement of cocaine and other illicit drugs through the region.
The agency reported seizing more than 511,000 pounds of cocaine in 2025 — more than three times its annual average. Since the launch of Operation Pacific Viper in early August, the Coast Guard has seized in excess of 215,000 pounds of cocaine and apprehended 160 suspected narco-traffickers.
Among the assets involved in the operations were the USCGC Tahoma, the USS Billings, the Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, Tactical Law Enforcement Team South LEDET 405, Joint Interagency Task Force South, and Coast Guard Southeast District watchstanders.
