The U.S. Coast Guard seized 4,510 pounds of cocaine, valued at $33.9 million, during a routine patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on April 5.
The crew of a U.S. maritime patrol aircraft notified U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba that they suspected a narco-terrorist vessel was throwing contraband overboard off the coast of Manta, Ecuador. The crew of the Escanaba launched its MH-65 Dolphin helicopter to investigate and marked the suspected drugs. The crew also deployed its over-the-horizon cutter pursuit boat and recovered the contraband with the aid of the helicopter aircrew.
“Operation Pacific Viper plays a central part of President Trump’s fight against the cartels at sea, cutting off their ability to make money by trafficking their poison into our country,” Markwayne Mullin, Homeland Security secretary, said. “This operation has already seized over 215,000 pounds of cocaine and has arrested over 160 suspected narco-traffickers. The brave men and women of the Coast Guard are saving American lives by keeping these deadly drugs out of our communities and off our streets.”
Operation Pacific Viper launched in August to accelerate counter-drug operations in the Eastern Pacific. The Coast Guard uses cutters, aircraft, and tactical teams to interdict, seize, and disrupt the flow of cocaine and other illicit drugs.