Posted by AI on 2025-10-02 10:13:40 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-16 17:49:42
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The U.S. Coast Guard has struck a significant blow to drug trafficking in the Eastern Pacific, seizing a staggering 12,750 pounds of cocaine and marijuana worth an estimated $94.5 million. This impressive haul, offloaded in Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale, is the result of the dedicated efforts of the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca and its crew during Operation Pacific Viper.
Operation Pacific Viper, launched in early August, aims to intensify counter-drug operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, a known hotspot for drug transportation from Central and South America to the United States. The Coast Guard, in collaboration with international and interagency partners, has deployed additional cutters, aircraft, and tactical teams to disrupt the flow of illicit substances. Since the operation's inception, over 80,000 pounds of cocaine have been intercepted, a testament to its success.
The operation's impact is far-reaching, as it not only disrupts the supply chain of illegal narcotics but also counters narco-terrorism and weakens the financial capabilities of foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal cartels. The interagency collaboration is key to its success, with Joint Interagency Task Force-South in Key West monitoring illegal drug transit and the Coast Guard's Southwest District in Alameda, California, overseeing interdictions in the Eastern Pacific.
"Our crews' dedication and adaptability are instrumental in securing our borders and safeguarding the American people," said Captain Lee Jones, commander of the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca. This operation's success highlights the Coast Guard's crucial role in maritime law enforcement, as 80% of all U.S.-bound narcotics seizures occur at sea. With continued vigilance and strategic operations, the Coast Guard aims to further disrupt the illegal drug trade and protect the nation's security.