Coast Guard
Coast Guard seizes, offloads more than $49 million in cocaine
Stars and Stripes
March 19, 2026
The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Forward offload illegal drugs worth more than $49.3 million at Port Everglades, Fla., on Thursday, March 19, 2026. (U.S. Coast Guard)
The U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Forward and Spencer seized thousands of pounds of illicit drugs while on interdiction missions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, which Forward offloaded Thursday in Port Everglades, Fla..
The approximately 6,570 pounds of cocaine Forward offloaded are worth more than $49.3 million, the service said in a news release.
The haul was the result of just two interdiction missions, the first of which was led by USCG Cutter Spencer and its embarked Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, the release said.
Spencer’s crew on Feb. 7 used airborne tactics to disable and board a vessel, seizing about 6,400 pounds of cocaine. The second incident happened a day later and was conducted by Forward, resulting in the seizure of about 130 pounds of cocaine.
The interdictions were part of Operation Pacific Viper, which was launched last year and in February reached a milestone in cumulatively seizing 200,000 pounds of cocaine.
“I’m incredibly proud of the crew for adding to the success of Operation Pacific Viper,” said Forward’s commanding officer, Cmdr. Andrew Grantham, according to the release. “The Coast Guard and our partners are working tirelessly to stop narco-terrorists and criminal organizations before their dangerous and illegal cargos reach American shores.”