The crew of the US Coast Guard medium endurance cutter (WMEC) USCGC Resolute crew offloaded approximately 2,570 pounds (1,170 kg) of cocaine worth more than US$19.3 million and transferred six suspected drug smugglers to federal authorities at Base Miami Beach on Thursday, April 23.
The seized contraband was the result of three interdictions in the Caribbean Sea by the crew of the coast guard WMEC USCGC Tahoma and the crew of the US Navy Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Billings with an embarked coast guard law enforcement detachment (LEDET).
Other assets and crews that were involved in the interdiction operations include Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron; Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team South, LEDET 405; Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S); and Coast Guard Southeast District watchstanders.
Since the launch of Operation Pacific Viper in early August 2025, the coast guard has seized over 215,000 pounds (97,500 kg) of cocaine and apprehended 160 suspected narco-traffickers.
JIATF-S, in Key West, conducts the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs. Once an interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the US Coast Guard for the interdiction and apprehension phases.
Interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by members of the US Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Coast Guard Southeast District, headquartered in Miami.