The U.S. Coast Guard conducts maritime counter-narcotics operations by deploying ships, aircraft, and tactical teams and by collaborating with international partners to interdict vessels transporting drugs from Central and South America.
October 15, 2025
high
operational
General description of assets and international collaboration used in maritime drug interdiction efforts targeting trafficking routes from Central and South America.
The South Atlantic Anomaly is a region southeast of South America and southwest of Africa where Earth's magnetic field strength is lower than surrounding areas and the field lines dip toward the planet's surface; the anomaly was first identified in the 19th century.
January 01, 1801
high
general
Geographic and historical description of the South Atlantic Anomaly.
In 1492 Christopher Columbus sailed to what is now the Bahamas believing he had reached Asia; he subsequently made three additional voyages to South America, Central America, and the Caribbean and did not reach what is now the United States.
January 01, 1492
high
temporal
Summary of Columbus's voyages and their geographic scope.
U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) is the United States combatant command responsible for military operations in the Caribbean and Latin America.
high
organizational
Defines the geographic area of responsibility for a U.S. combatant command.
Much of the cocaine produced by the world's largest producers is smuggled via maritime routes in the waters off South America.
high
contextual
Maritime smuggling routes off South America are major corridors for cocaine trafficking from large producing countries.
U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) is the primary U.S. military combatant command responsible for operations in the Caribbean and South America.
high
organizational
Defines the geographic responsibility of a U.S. combatant command.
Spain functions as a major gateway to Europe for North African hashish and South American cocaine.
high
drug-route
Patterns of drug smuggling routes into Europe