This week, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stone delivered about 49,010 pounds of illegal drugs worth over $362 million at Port Everglades. This marks the largest amount of cocaine seized by a single cutter during one patrol in the history of the Coast Guard. The operation involved 15 interceptions in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, coinciding with an expanded military campaign by the Trump administration that has faced significant criticism.

“I am extremely proud of the crew’s incredible performance during this deployment,” said Capt. Anne O’Connell, the commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Stone. “This offload showcases our heightened efforts and ongoing success in combating narco-terrorism and transnational criminal organizations.”

This significant offloading comes as the Coast Guard recently announced that it seized nearly 510,000 pounds of cocaine during the fiscal year 2025, the highest amount in the agency's history and more than three times the annual average of 167,000 pounds. This amount is enough for 193 million potentially lethal doses, posing a danger to over half of the U.S. population.

“The Coast Guard’s top priority is to achieve complete operational control of the U.S. border and maritime approaches,” said Adm. Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the Coast Guard. “We own the sea, and this record amount of cocaine seized indicates that we are successfully disrupting narco-terrorist and cartel operations to safeguard our communities and keep harmful drugs off our streets.”

The Coast Guard's record-breaking seizures are part of Operation Pacific Viper, led by the U.S. Coast Guard under the Department of Homeland Security, which aims to prevent drug cartels and criminal organizations from reaching American shores.

Parallel Military Campaign

In tandem with these law enforcement efforts, the Trump administration has initiated a separate and controversial military campaign. Since September, the Department of War has conducted at least 21 airstrikes against suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, resulting in over 80 deaths.

The two campaigns illustrate differing strategies to tackle drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. While the Coast Guard achieves record success through traditional law enforcement measures, the Department of War has opted for military actions that have drawn criticism from international human rights organizations, U.S. allies, and some members of Congress.