U.S. seizes $214M in cocaine off San Diego

The U.S. Coast Guard significantly disrupted drug trafficking operations by seizing nearly 19,000 pounds of cocaine, valued at over $214 million, off San Diego. The drugs, intercepted during a series of coordinated interdictions between February and April, were offloaded by the Coast Guard Cutter Kimball, a legend-class national security cutter based in Honolulu.  

These operations, part of a broader mission to dismantle the maritime supply chains of transnational criminal organizations, involved multiple agencies. The Coast Guard coordinated closely with the Navy, Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, DEA, ICE, and international partners. Their joint efforts targeted vessels navigating the coasts of Mexico, Central America, and South America, where significant quantities of narcotics pass through the Pacific.  

In a statement, the Coast Guard emphasized that the fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific requires a unified, multi-agency approach, encompassing detection, interdiction, and prosecution. The Cutter Kimball’s advanced capabilities and experienced crew were instrumental in boarding and interdicting vessels, preventing the illicit shipment from ever reaching U.S. shores.  

This operation highlights ongoing efforts to not only intercept large quantities of cocaine but also to disrupt the flow of precursors used in the production of fentanyl, a major factor in the U.S. overdose crisis. Future initiatives in the region are expected to ramp up similar interdictions and international collaborations, reinforcing the commitment to counter narcotics trafficking and safeguard communities against the pervasive threat of transnational crime.