Coast Guard’s Pacific Seizures Top 225,000 Pounds of Cocaine Since Operation’s August Launch

Eighty percent of all seizures of U.S.-bound narcotics occur at sea, according to Homeland Security.

U.S. Coast Guard officers seize a vessel with suspected narco-terrorists. Courtesy of the USCG

The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has seized more than 225,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean as part of Operation Pacific Viper since it was launched in August last year, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said in a June 17 statement.

“With 1.2 grams of cocaine being a potentially deadly dose, the total amount seized through Operation Pacific Viper equates to more than 93 million potentially deadly doses kept off of American streets,” DHS said. “Eighty percent of all seizures of U.S.-bound narcotics occur at sea, underscoring the impact of Coast Guard maritime interdiction efforts.”