Coast Guard’s Munro makes largest at-sea cocaine bust in 18+ years in Eastern Pacific
The Coast Guard cutter Munro seized about 20,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific — which the service called the largest at-sea interdiction in more than 18 years — after a Coast Guard helicopter crew disabled a non‑compliant go‑fast vessel, video released by the service shows. The action was part of Operation Pacific Viper, which the Coast Guard says has seized over 150,000 pounds of cocaine (an estimated value exceeding $1.1 billion) since August, with JIATF‑South handling detection and the Coast Guard conducting interdictions and seizures. The service did not disclose the fate of people seen aboard the interdicted vessel, and the operation comes amid broader scrutiny over recent lethal maritime strikes.
📌 Key Facts
- The USCG cutter Munro seized about 20,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific, which the Coast Guard publicly characterized as the largest at-sea interdiction in more than 18 years.
- The Coast Guard released video and said a helicopter crew disabled a non‑compliant 'go‑fast' vessel before Munro boarded and seized the drugs; the USCG did not disclose the fate of people seen aboard the interdicted vessel.
- The seizure was conducted as part of Operation Pacific Viper, an initiative the Department of Homeland Security and Coast Guard say has seized more than 150,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific since August, with an estimated value exceeding $1.1 billion.
- Separately, USCG cutter James seized roughly 19,800 pounds of cocaine across four interdictions in mid‑November, and another Coast Guard cutter offloaded more than 49,000 pounds of illicit drugs in Florida in November.
- USCG describes the workflow for these efforts as detection and monitoring by Joint Interagency Task Force–South (JIATF‑South) and interdictions, apprehensions and seizures carried out by Coast Guard assets.
- The Munro interdiction was reported amid broader public scrutiny and controversy over recent lethal maritime strikes, a context noted in coverage of the operation.
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly lauded Operation Pacific Viper in the Coast Guard’s release about the interdictions.
📊 Relevant Data
In 2023, Colombia's coca bush cultivation increased by 10 per cent to 253,000 hectares, while potential cocaine production reached 2,664 tons, a 53 per cent increase from the previous year.
From 2018 to 2023, cocaine-involved overdose death rates per 100,000 increased from 6.2 to 10.5 for non-Hispanic White persons, from 3.8 to 9.6 for Hispanic persons, from 6.0 to 15.1 for non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native persons, and from 0.5 to 1.5 for non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander persons.
Since early September 2025, the US military has conducted at least 15 airstrikes on alleged drug vessels, resulting in more than 60 deaths, including individuals from Venezuela, Colombia, and Ecuador.
Coast Guard’s Historic Cocaine Seizures Overshadowed By Deadly U.S. Airstrikes — gCaptain
📰 Sources (3)
- USCG says Operation Pacific Viper has seized more than 150,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific since August.
- Estimated value of drugs seized under the operation so far exceeds $1.1 billion.
- USCG cutter James seized about 19,800 pounds of cocaine across four interdictions in mid-November.
- Another USCG cutter offloaded over 49,000 pounds of illicit drugs in Florida in November.
- USCG details the workflow: JIATF-South detects/monitors air and maritime drug movements; the Coast Guard conducts interdictions, apprehensions, and seizures.
- DHS Secretary Kristi Noem publicly lauded Operation Pacific Viper in the Coast Guard’s release.
- USCG publicly characterized the seizure as the largest at-sea interdiction in more than 18 years.
- USCG released video and stated a helicopter crew disabled the non‑compliant go‑fast vessel before Munro seized the drugs.
- USCG did not disclose the fate of the people seen aboard the interdicted vessel.
- Places the action within Operation Pacific Viper and notes broader context of recent lethal maritime strikes controversy.