How did the U.S. Coast Guard’s fight against Caribbean drug smuggling result in the interception of over $20 million worth of drugs?
At a Glance
- The U.S. Coast Guard and its international partners have seized over $20.1 million worth of illegal drugs in the Caribbean Sea.
- The haul includes approximately 2,220 pounds of cocaine and 3,320 pounds of marijuana.
- The drugs were seized during four separate vessel interdictions and were offloaded in Miami Beach on Wednesday.
- The successful operation involved cooperation between naval forces from the U.S., Canada, and the Netherlands.
A Massive Drug Interception at Sea
In a major victory against drug trafficking, the U.S. Coast Guard has offloaded more than $20.1 million worth of illicit narcotics seized during a multinational operation in the Caribbean Sea. The massive haul, which included approximately 2,220 pounds of cocaine and 3,320 pounds of marijuana, was brought ashore at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
The drugs were seized during four separate, successful interdictions of smuggling vessels in international waters.
An International Alliance at Play
The operation was a powerful testament to the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating transnational crime. According to a U.S. Coast Guard press release, the seizures were the result of a joint effort between the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Royal Netherlands Navy.
One of the successful busts occurred on June 15, when a U.S. Coast Guard helicopter team, operating from the Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS Friesland, interdicted a suspected drug-smuggling vessel off the coast of Venezuela.
A “Team Effort” to Protect the Homeland
U.S. Coast Guard officials praised the collaboration that made the operation a success. “Stopping harmful and illicit narcotics from reaching our shores and entering our communities is a team effort,” said Cmdr. Brian Gismervik. “In the dynamic maritime environment, it takes the combined efforts of our joint force DoD, DHS, and international partners to combat transnational criminal organizations.”
$20M worth of cocaine, marijuana intercepted by Coast Guard https://t.co/SDXjCO7pBO
— Fox News (@FoxNews) July 3, 2025
The operation is part of a broader strategy involving the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to dismantle the criminal networks that threaten U.S. communities. While authorities have not yet released information regarding any arrests made during the interdictions, the seizure represents a significant disruption to the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.
