Coast Guard Seizes 4,500 Pounds of Cocaine Off Ecuador Under Operation Pacific Viper

The U.S. Coast Guard seized more than 4,510 pounds of cocaine worth nearly $34 million on Easter Sunday from a suspected narco‑trafficking vessel operating off the coast of Manta, Ecuador, as part of the Trump administration’s Operation Pacific Viper. According to DHS, a maritime patrol aircraft spotted the crew throwing contraband overboard, prompting the cutter Escanaba to launch an MH‑65 Dolphin helicopter and pursuit boat that intercepted the vessel and recovered the drugs. DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said Pacific Viper, begun in August 2025, has now seized more than 215,000 pounds of cocaine and led to the arrests of over 160 suspected narco‑traffickers, including what the agency calls the largest drug seizure in Coast Guard history last August and another record haul last November. Officials frame the effort as a central piece of President Trump’s fight against cartels at sea and narco‑terrorism, while showcasing video of helicopter snipers disabling "go‑fast" boats to underline the military‑style tactics involved. The operation highlights how much of the U.S. cocaine supply chain is fought far from U.S. shores and will feed continuing debate over whether expensive maritime interdictions meaningfully dampen the flow of drugs into American communities.