On Thursday, the U.S. Coast Guard announced that it has seized over 200,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific since it started Operation Pacific Viper in early August. This operation is notable for being one of the most aggressive anti-drug campaigns at sea in recent years.
This achievement follows the recent recovery of 13,337 pounds by the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca and 13,263 pounds by the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Ward. Federal estimates indicate that just 1.2 grams of cocaine can be a potentially lethal dose, meaning these seizures have prevented over 75 million lethal doses from reaching U.S. markets.
Kristi Noem stated that “Operation Pacific Viper has become an essential tool in fighting against drug traffickers and cartels in Latin America,” noting that the operation has stopped criminal organizations from earning billions of dollars in illegal profits.
Kevin Lunday, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, emphasized that maritime interdictions are vital for disrupting drug trafficking networks before they can enter U.S. territory.
“Every drug seizure by the Coast Guard far from our shores keeps dangerous drugs out of our communities and reduces the profits that support narco-terrorism,” Lunday said. “The success of Operation Pacific Viper showcases the skill and dedication of our crews at sea.”
Launched in August 2025, Operation Pacific Viper has increased the Coast Guard's activity along the Eastern Pacific, a key route for cocaine smuggling from Central and South America. The operation has deployed cutters, aircraft, and tactical teams to detect, intercept, and seize drug shipments.
In December, the Coast Guard reported a record seizure of 150,000 pounds of cocaine in just one month, which included intercepting a vessel carrying over 20,000 pounds. This highlights the intensity of the operation.
Counter-drug missions are closely coordinated with the U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Interagency Task Force-South based in Key West, Florida, which tracks suspicious maritime and aerial activities. Once an interception is imminent, control is handed over to the Coast Guard. Officials state that about 80 percent of narcotics heading to the U.S. are captured at sea.
Military Strikes Target Trafficking Vessels
In addition to Coast Guard actions, U.S. forces have carried out numerous airstrikes against suspected drug trafficking boats in the southern Caribbean and Eastern Pacific as part of Operation Southern Spear, which started in September 2025.
According to U.S. military reports, the campaign has targeted vessels thought to be engaged in drug smuggling, resulting in the deaths of over 115 alleged traffickers. The most recent acknowledged strike in the Caribbean took place on November 10, when U.S. forces targeted a boat in international waters, killing four individuals. Subsequent strikes have mainly focused on the Eastern Pacific.
On Wednesday, Secretary of War Pete Hegseth claimed on social media that some high-ranking cartel members have stopped drug operations after what he called “highly effective” military strikes, but he did not provide any evidence to support this claim.
U.S. Southern Command later confirmed that Joint Task Force Southern Spear executed a lethal strike on February 5 against a vessel in known trafficking areas in the Eastern Pacific. They reported that two individuals labeled as “narco-terrorists” were killed, with no injuries to U.S. personnel.
The Coast Guard is the primary federal agency for maritime drug interdiction, operating at the intersection of law enforcement and national defense. Interdictions in the Eastern Pacific fall under the authority of the Coast Guard’s Southwest District, which is based in Alameda, California.