Fort Lauderdale, Florida – In a stunning victory against the drug trade, the U.S. Coast Guard offloaded 12,750 pounds of cocaine valued at nearly $95 million at Port Everglades on Tuesday, the latest in a series of record-breaking interdictions that have crippled cartel operations in the eastern Pacific.
The seizure, part of Operation Pacific Viper, unfolded during a 61-day deployment by the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca, which intercepted a smuggling vessel 300 miles off Central America. Crew members, using drones and high-speed pursuits, detained four suspects and secured the cargo without incident. “This haul represents over 5.7 million lethal doses – enough to devastate communities from coast to coast,” said Capt. Eric McRill, Seneca’s commanding officer, during the offload ceremony. The drugs, vacuum-sealed in 500 packages, were destined for U.S. streets, fueling the fentanyl crisis that claimed 107,000 lives last year.
This bust marks the third major offload in Florida this month, following 21,126 pounds worth $156 million seized by the Cutter Midgett and 8,700 pounds valued at $64.5 million from the Cutter Diligence. Since August, Operation Viper has netted over 80,000 pounds of cocaine and 29 arrests, accelerating counter-drug efforts amid President Trump’s “Midway Blitz” on transnational crime. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem praised the teams: “Every pound stopped is a life saved – we’re hitting the cartels where it hurts.”
Florida’s strategic ports have become ground zero for these triumphs, with Port Everglades handling $2.2 billion in drugs seized since January. Local leaders, including Broward County Sheriff Tony LaRosa, hailed the operation as vital to public safety. “These traffickers don’t care about borders or lives – but neither do we when it comes to stopping them,” LaRosa said.
As midterms approach, the seizures underscore a bipartisan win in the war on drugs, but challenges persist: UN reports show cocaine production at record highs in South America. For the Coast Guard’s 42,000-strong force, it’s a reminder of the high-seas stakes – one bust at a time, turning the tide against poison’s flow.
