The U.S. Coast Guard has announced a significant victory in its campaign against illegal drug trafficking, successfully intercepting 100,000 pounds of cocaine as part of Operation Pacific Viper. This extensive international initiative focuses on dismantling transnational criminal networks operating within the Eastern Pacific region.

This operation marks a concentrated effort by the Coast Guard to bolster their presence in the Eastern Pacific, aiming to thwart the operations of cartels and criminal organizations before they can transport drugs and engage in human smuggling toward the United States. As reported by the Department of Homeland Security on October 14, Operation Pacific Viper has intercepted an average of 1,600 pounds of cocaine daily, leading to 34 successful interdictions since its inception.

“Operation Pacific Viper has become an essential tool in combating foreign drug traffickers and cartels in Latin America,” stated Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. “It sends a clear message that we are committed to disrupting, dismantling, and destroying their harmful enterprises wherever they are found. By cutting off the supply of these lethal drugs, the Coast Guard is saving countless American lives and fulfilling the promise to enhance national safety and restore maritime superiority.”

In August, the operation achieved a historic milestone for the Coast Guard with its largest-ever drug offload. The USCGC Hamilton delivered over 76,000 pounds of illegal narcotics, valued at $473 million, at Port Everglades. This haul included roughly 61,740 pounds of cocaine and 14,400 pounds of marijuana.

A member of the U.S. Coast Guard is seen offloading seized cocaine in San Diego, following the success of Operation Pacific Viper in the Eastern Pacific. (U.S. Coast Guard)

‘A global logistics enterprise’

To better understand the scope of the cocaine trade and what such seizures mean for national security, Fox News Digital spoke with Spencer Coursen, a threat management specialist and former U.S. Army Ranger and special deputy marshal. Coursen explained that most cocaine bound for the U.S. originates along Colombia’s Pacific coast, with routes often passing through Ecuador, Peru or Venezuela before moving north via the Caribbean, Mexico or increasingly, the Pacific corridor.

People flock to Windansea Beach along the La Jolla coast on May 10, 2025, in San Diego, California. The Coast Guard has been targeting drug traffickers who have been sending narcotics toward American shores. (Kevin Carter/Getty Images)

As law enforcement efforts tightened along traditional routes, cartels shifted west, taking advantage of the vastness of the Pacific to evade detection.

“They’re not street gangs,” Coursen said. “They’re global logistics enterprises that rival Amazon, vertically integrated from jungle production to port distribution. They have infrastructure, surveillance, counter-surveillance and billions in cash and weapons to protect their routes.”

The U.S. Coast Guard approaches a suspected smuggling vessel in the Pacific Ocean during Operation Pacific Viper, part of ongoing efforts to disrupt cartel maritime networks. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Coursen said that while the operation’s success spotlights the Coast Guard’s vigilance, it also gives a glimpse into the sheer scale and sophistication of the narcotics trade.

“Every win is great,” Coursen said. “But every win is also an insight into just how much cocaine is being moved. The most recent estimates show 3,000 to 4,000 tons a year—about 6 million pounds. So even massive interdictions like this are only scratching the surface.”

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter patrols the Eastern Pacific during Operation Pacific Viper, part of the service’s ongoing mission to intercept drug trafficking vessels at sea. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Coursen warned that despite major seizures like Operation Pacific Viper, cartels’ vast resources allow them to absorb losses and continue operations.

“If nine out of 10 shipments are seized, they’re still making a profit,” he said. “Each one is insured by scale. To them, it’s a tariff—just the cost of doing business.”

He added that the U.S. remains the largest consumer of cocaine globally, accounting for an estimated 40% of worldwide demand.

Despite the success of Operation Pacific Viper, Coursen said interdiction alone will not solve the problem.

“It’s an enormous challenge,” he said. “But every interdiction is a win for national security, and for the men and women who put themselves in harm’s way to make it happen.”