The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently announced that the U.S. Coast Guard’s Operation Pacific Viper, which began in August 2025, has surpassed more than 225,000 pounds of cocaine seized in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Operation Pacific Viper is a counter-drug operation in the Eastern Pacific that is part of a larger U.S. strategy to combat narco-terrorism and dismantle transnational criminal organizations. The Eastern Pacific is a primary corridor for narcotics smuggling from Central and South America. The Coast Guard uses cutters, aircraft and tactical teams to interdict, seize and disrupt the flow of cocaine and other illicit drugs.
“Operation Pacific Viper stands as a decisive force against narco-terrorists, sending an unmistakable message that we will not allow them to profit off the poisoning of our people,” DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin said. “The U.S. Coast Guard has prevented more than 225,000 pounds of cocaine from reaching American communities since our operation began.”
The operation surpassed more than 225,000 pounds earlier this month when the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bear intercepted 7,707 pounds of cocaine. The vessel’s helicopter crew detected and disabled two drug smuggling vessels, leading to a significant drug seizure and the apprehension of six suspected narco-terrorists.
Eighty percent of all seizures of U.S.-bound narcotics occur at sea.