In a coordinated maritime strike that underscores the persistent fight against transnational crime, U.S. forces seized and offloaded over 3,700 pounds of narcotics this week—part of a high-seas operation targeting trafficking lanes in the Caribbean.
The bust, valued at over US $12 million, was the result of multi-branch cooperation involving the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, and federal law enforcement agencies. While details remain classified, the contraband was intercepted during targeted patrols aboard the USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, supported by an onboard helicopter and deployed Coast Guard boarding teams.
“This isn’t just about intercepting drugs,” said one senior defense official. “It’s about choking the arteries of organized networks that fund violence, corruption, and instability across the region.”
The seized cocaine and marijuana were brought ashore in Port Everglades by the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa, currently participating in South Florida’s annual Fleet Week. The event, typically celebratory, became the backdrop for a reminder of the region’s enduring role in the narcotics pipeline.
Authorities say the interception came after intelligence cues flagged unusual maritime activity in waters south of the Dominican Republic. Once the suspect vessels were located, rapid deployment teams executed swift takedowns, disabling the traffickers and confiscating their cargo.
The broader operation was part of a mission overseen by the Joint Interagency Task Force–South, based in Key West, which integrates satellite monitoring, aerial surveillance, and naval patrols to detect smuggling activity before it reaches landfall.
As narcotics continue to flow northward through maritime corridors, federal agencies maintain that international cooperation, advanced detection systems, and constant naval presence are critical deterrents.
“Every seizure is a message,” said a U.S. official. “We are out there, and we are watching.”
No names have been released, and the suspects are expected to be transferred to U.S. federal custody for prosecution.
