Port Everglades Sees Coast Guard’s Largest Drug Offload in U.S. History
PORT EVERGLADES, Fla. — In a historic operation on Monday, the U.S. Coast Guard offloaded 76,140 pounds of illicit narcotics: including 61,740 pounds of cocaine and 14,400 pounds of marijuana at Port Everglades. The haul, valued at more than $473 million, marks the largest drug offload in the agency’s history. Officials estimate the seizure prevented approximately 23 million lethal doses of drugs from entering the United States a sobering reminder of the sheer scale of transnational trafficking operations in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific corridors.
A Coordinated Operation
This unprecedented haul was the result of 19 separate interdictions over several months, executed by U.S. Coast Guard teams working alongside federal, Department of Defense, and international partners.
The operations relied on advanced surveillance technology, including unmanned aircraft systems, maritime patrol aircraft, and coordinated intelligence support from the Joint Interagency Task Force–South (JIATF-S). Boarding teams launched from multiple vessels, including the Coast Guard Cutters Hamilton, Vigilant, and Diligence, as well as the USS Cole, the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, and the Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS Friesland. Rear Admiral Adam Chamie, commander of the Coast Guard’s Southeast District, emphasized the significance of the achievement:
“This represents a significant victory in the fight against transnational criminal organizations,” Chamie said. “These quantities, enough to fatally overdose the entire population of Florida, highlight the immense threat posed by drug trafficking to our nation.”
On-the-Water Victories
The interdictions spanned international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea. Among the major seizures:
June 26: Airborne units tracked two “go-fast” boats near the Galápagos Islands, resulting in over 8,800 pounds of cocaine seized.
July 3: Crews partnered with the Royal Netherlands Navy north of Venezuela to seize more than 5,450 pounds of cocaine.
July 11: Teams intercepted 9,088 pounds of marijuana northeast of Silva, Venezuela.
July 23: A boarding team seized 9,160 pounds of cocaine southeast of Socorro Island, Mexico.
August 18: Two coordinated boardings near Jamaica and Curaçao resulted in over 7,000 pounds of cocaine seized.
In total, the interdictions led to the detention of 34 suspected drug traffickers and the removal of narcotics valued at nearly half a billion dollars.
Strategic Impact
Officials say maritime interdictions like these are critical because 80 percent of illicit drugs trafficked toward the United States travel through international waters. Operations like these not only disrupt cartel operations but also generate key intelligence for ongoing investigations, including those under Operation Pacific Viper and Operation Take Back America. Captain John B. McWhite, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton, praised the crews involved:
“This outstanding group of professionals achieved unparalleled results in our nation’s fight against transnational criminal organizations,”McWhite said. “The commitment and sacrifice of our deployed service members and their families, who forego time together for the protection of our nation, are to be celebrated.”
The massive offload at Port Everglades underscores the scale of the drug crisis and the effectiveness of international and interagency cooperation in combating it. While the fight against transnational cartels is far from over, this operation represents a decisive victory — and a stark warning to traffickers operating on the high seas.
