U.S. Coast Guard and International Partners Seize Over \$138 Million in Drugs During Caribbean Interdictions

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Posted by Admin on 2025-06-10 09:03:50 |

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In a major blow to transnational drug trafficking operations, the United States Coast Guard recently offloaded over \$138 million worth of illicit narcotics seized in a series of coordinated interdictions in the Caribbean Sea. The operation involved two Coast Guard cutters, USCGC Valiant and USCGC Vigorous, along with extensive support from U.S. and international naval partners. On Friday, the crew of the USCGC Valiant offloaded approximately 17,450 pounds of cocaine and 2,585 pounds of marijuana, valued at around \$132 million, at Port Everglades in Florida. A day earlier, the crew of USCGC Vigorous offloaded about 840 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated \$6.2 million at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach.

The seized narcotics were the result of six separate maritime interdictions conducted between May 19 and May 31, 2025. These operations were supported by advanced maritime patrol aircraft that detected suspicious vessels across a wide region spanning from north of Aruba to south of the Dominican Republic and near the coasts of Venezuela and Colombia. Each interdiction was carried out by a coordinated team of U.S. Coast Guard personnel and international allies, including the Royal Netherlands Navy and the Royal Canadian Navy. The interdicted vessels were carrying substantial quantities of cocaine and marijuana, which were later transferred to the Valiant and Vigorous cutters for offloading.

Commander Matthew Press of the USCGC Valiant praised the courage and professionalism of his crew, emphasizing their sacrifice and dedication in safeguarding American borders. He also highlighted the importance of multinational cooperation, noting the joint efforts with the United States Navy, the Royal Canadian Navy, and the Royal Netherlands Navy in disrupting drug trafficking networks. These operations demonstrate the value of coordinated maritime law enforcement efforts in addressing the challenges posed by transnational criminal organizations.

The interdictions fall under the broader framework of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces’ Strike Force initiative. This federal program seeks to dismantle high-level criminal organizations through intelligence-led, multi-agency strategies. The detection, interdiction, and law enforcement operations were overseen by the Joint Interagency Task Force-South, based in Key West, Florida, which plays a key role in monitoring and responding to illegal drug trafficking in the region. The success of this large-scale operation reflects the effectiveness of collaborative efforts in curbing the flow of narcotics into the United States.

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