The U.S. Coast Guard just delivered a historic win against global narco-terrorism, offloading millions of dollars worth of seized cocaine at Port Everglades. The massive operation netted more than 49,000 pounds of cocaine, valued at an estimated $362 million. This marks the largest single seizure by a single ship during one mission in Coast Guard history.
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard immediately thanked President Trump for the success. She said, “The success that we are seeing here today is what happens when we have a commander in chief who empowers leaders, coast guard, men and women, our service members across the force, our intelligence analysts and professionals to do the job that they signed up to do.”
This haul is the result of 15 separate interdictions carried out by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stone and partner agencies in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, Vice Adm. Nathan Moore, had a powerful message for the drug cartels.
Moore said, “What you see behind me is more than just a pile of cocaine. It represents a tangible victory in our ongoing fight against transnational criminal organizations and narco terrorism.” He added a direct warning to the dealers: “We own this sea, not you. We will find you, we will hunt you before you harm anyone on our shores.”
Officials confirmed that removing this contraband from the global supply chain is a matter of saving American lives. The DEA says that over 20,000 Americans die from cocaine-related incidents every year.
Terry Cole, administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), said, “Removing this much cocaine from the global supply chain does more than interrupt a shipment. It weakens entire organizations. It protects communities throughout the United States and across the region. It saves lives.”
The Coast Guard cutter’s Commanding Officer, Capt. Anne O’Connell, explained how they successfully intercepted the smugglers. She confirmed, “We used our armed helicopter to stop the vessels.”
The suspected smugglers were quickly taken into custody. O’Connell said, “We take the smugglers or presumed smugglers on board our ship as detainees, and then we confiscate the contraband, and then they are turned over either to they’ve been turned over to Ecuador or their country of origin for prosecution.”
The majority of the seized cocaine was confirmed to be coming out of Colombia and Ecuador. This historic seizure proves that President Trump’s commitment to securing the maritime border is working.