The United States Coast Guard (USCG) announced the largest cocaine seizure in the country's history, with more than 34,500 kilograms (76,140 pounds) seized during patrols in the eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, valued at a total of 473 million dollars.
This milestone comes amid a major military deployment by the Donald Trump administration in the Caribbean, aimed at combating Latin American narco-terrorist groups and curbing drug trafficking into the country.
The shipment seized by authorities will be officially offloaded this Monday at Port Everglades, Fort Lauderdale (Florida), in an event that authorities described as a "historic milestone" for the institution.
Drogas secuestradas.
According to USCG authorities, the operation consisted of several coordinated missions with national and international agencies, led by the Joint Interagency Task Force South. Among those attending the event will be Rear Admiral Adam Chamie, commander of the southeast district; Captain John B. McWhite, commanding officer of the Hamilton vessel; Rear Admiral Chase Sargeant; and prosecutor Gregory Kehoe, from the Middle District of Florida.
This seizure far surpasses the previous major offload recorded on July 29, when about 10,000 pounds (4,540 kg) of cocaine, valued at nearly 75 million dollars, were offloaded at the same port. The new operation multiplies that figure by more than seven, setting an absolute record for the U.S. anti-drug agency.
"This is the largest seizure in our organization's history," said Rear Admiral Chamie, emphasizing that international collaboration was key to curbing drug trafficking in international waters.
La Guardia Costera de Estados Unidos
Captain McWhite highlighted the direct impact of these operations on national security: "Every bale we manage to remove from the sea is one less threat to our communities."
Meanwhile, Rear Admiral Sargeant pointed out that the scale of the operation demonstrates the importance of having advanced technology and multinational coordination to combat transnational organized crime. The federal prosecutor's office in Florida added that seizures of this magnitude strengthen judicial proceedings against the networks responsible for illicit trafficking.
With this achievement, the United States, under the Trump administration, is advancing its offensive against maritime drug trafficking, which remains the main entry route for cocaine into the country.
