Drug Trafficking and Interdiction

The USCG cutter Munro made what the Coast Guard called the largest at‑sea interdiction in more than 18 years, seizing roughly 20,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific after a helicopter crew used disabling fire to stop a non‑compliant go‑fast vessel — the Coast Guard released video of the action but did not disclose the fate of people seen aboard. The bust was part of Operation Pacific Viper, which since August has seized over 150,000 pounds of cocaine (valued at more than $1.1 billion) across multiple cutters including Active and James, led to about a dozen arrests, and relies on JIATF‑South detection with Coast Guard interdiction tactics.