The United States Coast Guard seized a cache of drugs during operations in the eastern Pacific Ocean worth more than $63 million in June 2026. The seizures are the latest evidence of historic Coast Guard interdiction successes that have prevented narcotics from entering the U.S. About 3,502 kilograms of cocaine and 1,814 kilograms of marijuana were netted during three operations between June 11-13.
The operations took place under Operation Pacific Viper, which has shown demonstrable success in stopping the flow of narcotics to the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security announced in June that 102,058 kilograms of cocaine has been confiscated in the eastern Pacific since the operation began in August 2025. The Coast Guard and the U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) coordinate Operation Viper. “We own the sea,” said Adm. Kevin Lunday, Commandant of the Coast Guard. “Our forces conducting Operation Pacific Viper continue to defeat the cartels and stop the flow of deadly drugs to the United States.”
The milestone was marked by the Coast Guard cutter Bear, which unloaded the cocaine at Port Everglades, Florida, on June 26. The drugs had been seized June 12 when the Bear’s crew detected two go-fast vessels in the eastern Pacific. An embarked MH-65E Dolphin helicopter deployed and conducted airborne use-of-force tactics to force the boats to stop. Shortly after, Coast Guardsmen boarded the vessels and found 3,475 kilograms of cocaine. The next day, the Bear’s crew located a floating 27-kilogram bale of wrapped cocaine in the ocean, according to a SOUTHCOM news release.
The marijuana was confiscated June 11 when another go-fast vessel was stopped by the Coast Guard’s Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON). Personnel from the Joint Interagency Task Force South in Key West, Florida, and Coast Guard Southwest District also participated in the operations. “The success of these interdictions reflects the strength of our partnerships and the persistence of our crews,” Cmdr. Jorell Webb, commanding officer of the cutter Bear, said in the release. “Our success required the integration of thoughtful training, carefully planned logistics, and joint coordination. We are very proud of our efforts to prevent illicit networks from threatening our security.”
To commemorate the success of Operation Viper, in which HITRON seized more than three times its annual average amount of cocaine, the squadron’s rudders were painted black in March in a “Blackfin” design to celebrate operational effectiveness. The agency estimated that 80% of drug seizures headed to the U.S. occur at sea, making maritime interdiction “a key component of federal counter-narcotics efforts,” the release stated.