The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tampa offloaded a major cocaine shipment on Thursday at Base Miami Beach.
The haul, which had a street value of more than $28.7 million, weighed approximately 3,825 pounds — enough cocaine to kill more than 1.4 million Americans, the Coast Guard said. Crew members seized the contraband during two interdictions in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean as part of Operation Pacific Viper.
“This crew’s performance over the last 74 days has been nothing short of phenomenal,” said Cmdr. Joshua DiPietro, commanding officer of Tampa. “From qualifying several pilots, tie downs, Landing Safety Officers, and Helicopter Control Officers for aviation operations at the start of the patrol to seizing nearly $45 million in illicit narcotics, their teamwork during complex operations was truly impressive.
“They met every challenge head-on, working seamlessly with our partner agencies and international allies to disrupt transnational criminal organizations.”
The interdictions involved USCGC Tampa (WMEC 902), Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, Joint Interagency Task Force South, Coast Guard Southeast District watchstanders, and Coast Guard Southwest District watchstanders.
Launched under President Donald J. Trump, Operation Pacific Viper has boosted counter-drug efforts in the Eastern Pacific, a key smuggling route from Central and South America. The Coast Guard has deployed additional cutters, aircraft, and tactical teams to stop cocaine and other drugs.
These missions form part of the U.S. push against narco-terrorism and transnational criminal groups. Under Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, Coast Guard personnel keep up the pressure on cartels to halt drug flows into the United States.
Recent successes include a February seizure of 200,000 pounds of cocaine. Since the operation started in early August, the Coast Guard has taken more than 215,000 pounds of cocaine and detained 160 suspected traffickers, denying criminals billions in revenue.
Maritime seizures account for 80% of U.S.-bound drug interdictions. U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Interagency Task Force South in Key West handles the detection and monitoring of suspect air and sea shipments. The Coast Guard then leads enforcement, with Eastern Pacific operations directed by the Coast Guard’s Southwest District in Alameda, California.
The 270-foot medium endurance cutter Tampa is homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia, and operates under U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command.
