Coast Guard
Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton offloads record haul of illicit drugs — 76,140 pounds
Stars and Stripes
August 25, 2025
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton offloads more than 76,140 pounds of illicit narcotics at Port Everglades, Fla., on Monday, Aug. 25, 2025. (Taylor Bacon/U.S. Coast Guard)
Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton offloaded 76,140 pounds of illicit drugs on Monday in Port Everglades, Fla.
It is the largest single haul in Coast Guard history, and it is valued at $473 million, the service said in a news release.
The breakdown: approximately 61,740 pounds of cocaine, and 14,400 pounds of marijuana.
“The U.S. Coast Guard in partnership with our federal, DOD, and international partners are offloading 61,740 pounds of cocaine, and this represents a significant victory in the fight against transnational criminal organizations,” said Rear Adm. Adam Chamie, Coast Guard Southeast District commander. “To put this into perspective, the 23 million lethal doses of cocaine seized by the U.S. Coast Guard and our partners are enough to fatally overdose the entire population of the state of Florida.”
The total haul was the result of 19 interdictions in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
It was a team effort, including Navy ships and international partners, the Coast Guard said. Here are the team members in addition to Hamilton that participated:
•U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant.
•U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Diligence.
•U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) Jacksonville.
•U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team-Pacific (PAC-TACLET).
•U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team-South (TACLET-South).
•USS Minneapolis Saint-Paul.
•USS Cole.
•The Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS Friesland.
•Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S).
•U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations (CBP-AMO) aircrews.
•Southeast Coast Guard District watchstanders.
•Southwest Coast Guard District watchstanders.
“This outstanding group of professionals achieved unparalleled results in our nation’s fight against transnational criminal drug organizations,” said Capt. John B. McWhite, Hamilton’s commanding officer.
Hamilton is one of four 418-foot Legend-class national security cutters homeported in Charleston, S.C., under U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command.
Pallets of drugs on the flight of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton at Port Everglades, Fla., on Monday, on Aug. 25, 2025. (Nicholas Strasburg/U.S. Coast Guard)
A U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton crew member wraps drugs at Port Everglades, Fla., on Monday, on Aug. 25, 2025. (Nicholas Strasburg/U.S. Coast Guard)