Coast Guard Smashes Record with $362M Cocaine Haul
The U.S. Coast Guard has just set a new record, seizing nearly 50,000 pounds of cocaine worth more than $360 million during a single deployment. The operation, led by the cutter Stone, brought the massive haul ashore at Port Everglades in southern Florida, marking the most cocaine ever taken by a single Coast Guard cutter. Standing amid the neatly stacked packages, Vice Adm. Nathan Moore, commander of Coast Guard Atlantic Area, described it as “more than just a pile of cocaine,” emphasizing that it represents a tangible victory in the ongoing fight against transnational criminal organizations and narcoterrorism.
The cocaine, mostly originating from Colombia, was seized during 15 separate interdictions in the eastern Pacific, three of which happened in a single night. This success was boosted by the Stone’s new drone capability, the Shield AI MQ-35 V-BAT, which allowed crews to spot smuggling vessels even in darkness. The drone, capable of vertical takeoff and landing, kept watch over surrounding waters while Coast Guard teams completed the hours-long boarding and seizure process. Capt. Anne O’Connell, commanding officer of the Stone, credited the crew first and foremost, saying, “The secret sauce is our people, and they are what makes us successful.”
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Despite these record-breaking seizures, Admiral Moore acknowledged that traffickers are adapting their tactics. He described the ongoing effort as a “cat-and-mouse game,” with the Coast Guard adjusting its strategies to counter smugglers’ shifts. Interestingly, Moore noted that, despite recent U.S. air and missile strikes against alleged cartel smuggling infrastructure, there hasn’t been a noticeable change in the volume or purity of cocaine flowing toward U.S. shores.
Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole, however, highlighted that the strikes are having a measurable effect. Prices for cocaine are rising across the Americas, from Puerto Rico to Central America, by 30% to 45% per kilogram, making it costlier to recruit boat captains, build boats, and move drugs. Cole stressed that every available tool, from intelligence sharing to military action, is being applied to stem the flow of narcotics into the U.S.
The broader context includes a buildup of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean, part of pressure campaigns targeting Venezuela and its government, which the Trump administration accuses of involvement in drug trafficking. President Trump himself has suggested that no options are off the table in addressing the problem.
Looking ahead, the Coast Guard expects 2026 to be even busier. In fiscal year 2025 alone, 231,000 kilograms of cocaine were intercepted, more than triple the yearly average. Moore and Cole both emphasized that the mission remains vital for protecting American citizens. Cole said it plainly: “The American citizens are sick and tired of Americans dying at the hands of the cartels. We are laser-focused on protecting our citizens and defending our national security.”
This landmark operation demonstrates not just the growing technological edge of the Coast Guard, but also the continued importance of human expertise in tackling complex maritime drug trafficking networks. The message is clear: every tool at the U.S.’s disposal will be applied to keep dangerous narcotics off American streets.
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