U.S. Coast Guard crews offloaded over $20 million worth of cocaine and marijuana this week, intercepted across four high-speed maritime interdictions in the Caribbean Sea involving multiple international naval forces.
At a Glance
- U.S. Coast Guard seized over 5,500 pounds of drugs in four separate operations.
- Cocaine and marijuana were intercepted from vessels in the Caribbean Sea.
- Total estimated street value of the seizure exceeds $20 million.
- Royal Canadian and Dutch navies assisted in the interdictions.
- Drugs were offloaded in Miami following a multi-agency operation.
A High-Seas Multi-Nation Drug Sting
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Northland returned to Base Miami Beach on Wednesday carrying a staggering load: approximately 2,220 pounds of cocaine and 3,320 pounds of marijuana seized across four separate maritime interdictions in the Caribbean Sea.
Watch a report: Coast Guard intercept over $20M worth of cocaine, marijuana in massive Caribbean drug bust.
The massive haul—worth over $20 million—was the result of joint efforts between U.S. forces and allied naval units. The Royal Canadian Navy’s HMCS William Hall, the Royal Netherlands Navy’s HNLMS Friesland, and aircraft support from the U.S. Navy played key roles in spotting, pursuing, and interdicting the suspect vessels.
Cmdr. Brian Gismervik, commanding officer of the Northland, underscored the scale of coordination, stating the effort “takes the combined efforts of our joint force, DoD, DHS, and international partners.”
Cartel Disruption Strategy in Action
This latest seizure underscores a larger pattern of increasingly frequent multi-nation drug busts targeting transnational criminal organizations operating across the Caribbean and Pacific corridors. In April, authorities seized $510 million in narcotics from cartel-tied vessels—evidence of an expanding maritime narco-war.
Dramatic viral footage from earlier this year showed Coast Guard agents leaping onto fleeing boats, rifles drawn, during high-speed interceptions. These encounters often involve violent resistance, evasive maneuvers, and even semi-submersible vessels used to evade radar detection.
As the volume and complexity of these operations grow, so too does the Coast Guard’s emphasis on real-time intelligence sharing and tactical coordination with international allies—an evolving front line in the war on maritime trafficking.
