Overview
- The cutter Munro intercepted a go-fast vessel in the Eastern Pacific and seized more than 20,000 pounds of cocaine, the largest at-sea haul in roughly 18 years and equivalent to over 7.5 million potentially lethal doses, officials said.
- Federal authorities released footage showing a HITRON sniper using disabling fire on the fleeing boat before Coast Guard teams boarded and recovered the contraband; the service did not disclose the fate of those on board.
- The mission occurred under Operation Pacific Viper, a Coast Guard–Navy surge launched in August that officials say has accelerated interdictions, with the Coast Guard reporting nearly 510,000 pounds seized in fiscal 2025, its largest total on record.
- The expanding use of force at sea has drawn legal scrutiny, with lawmakers introducing a war powers resolution related to Venezuela as reporting describes at least 22 operations since September and dozens of deaths in strikes on suspected drug boats.
- In a separate case off Miami Beach, Coast Guard Station Miami Beach with CBP AMO and HSI seized about 3,715 pounds of cocaine from a sportfishing vessel and took three people into custody in the station’s largest such bust since 1995.