US Coast Guard offloads more than $74m in illicit drugs interdicted in Eastern Pacific

The crew of the US Coast Guard medium endurance cutter USCGC Tahoma offloaded approximately 9,970 pounds (4,520 kg) of cocaine worth US$73.7 million at Port Everglades in Florida on Tuesday, July 29.

The seized contraband was the result of an interdiction on June 24, 2025, approximately 120 miles (190 kilometres) northwest of Ecuador by the crew of Tahoma.

In addition to Tahoma, the coast guard also deployed personnel from Coast Guard Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team and Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Houston.

Joint Interagency Task Force-South under US Southern Command 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 Eastern Pacific Ocean are performed by members of the US Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Southwest Coast Guard District, headquartered in Alameda, California.