Coast Guard Seizes Record $473 Million in Drugs

The U.S. Coast Guard has achieved a historic milestone by offloading over 76,000 pounds of illegal narcotics at Port Everglades, Florida, marking the largest drug seizure in its history. This unprecedented haul includes approximately 61,740 pounds of cocaine and 14,400 pounds of marijuana, valued at $473 million. [1]

The operation involved 19 separate interdictions between June 26 and August 18, 2025, across the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Coast Guard cutters Hamilton, Vigilant, and Diligence, along with Navy ships USS Cole and USS Minneapolis Saint-Paul, and the Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS Friesland, participated in these efforts. Advanced technology, including drone units aboard the Hamilton, played a crucial role in detecting and intercepting traffickers’ vessels. [1]

Rear Admiral Adam Chamie emphasized the significance of the operation, stating that the seized drugs could have resulted in approximately 23 million lethal doses, enough to fatally overdose the entire population of Florida. The interdictions led to the detention of 34 suspected drug traffickers and deprived criminal organizations of over half a billion dollars in illicit revenue. These efforts also provided valuable intelligence to dismantle trafficking networks. [1]

This record-breaking seizure underscores the U.S. Coast Guard’s commitment to combating transnational drug trafficking and enhancing national security. [1]

References:

[1] WBAL-TV. (2025, September 29). U.S. Coast Guard records largest drug haul in history with $473 million seizure in South Florida. WBAL-TV. https://www.wbaltv.com/article/us-coast-guard-record-drug-haul-473m/65897802