Coast Guard seizes 4,500 lbs of cocaine value $34 million off Ecuador coast

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The U.S. Coast Guard seized greater than 4,500 kilos of cocaine value practically $34 million what officers described as a suspected "narco-terrorist" vessel within the Japanese Pacific on Easter Sunday, in line with DHS.

Based on the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS), the Coast Guard cutter Escanaba was alerted by a maritime patrol plane that the crew of a suspected narco-terrorist vessel was throwing contraband overboard.

The Coast Guard deployed an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew to research the vessel, which was working off the coast of Manta, Ecuador.

DHS mentioned the Escanaba crew deployed a cutter pursuit boat and recovered greater than 4,510 kilos of cocaine.

HEGSETH SAYS US STRIKES FORCE SOME CARTEL LEADERS TO HALT DRUG OPERATIONS

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/343/192/coast-guard-helicopter-intercept-drug-vessel.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/686/384/coast-guard-helicopter-intercept-drug-vessel.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/672/378/coast-guard-helicopter-intercept-drug-vessel.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/1344/756/coast-guard-helicopter-intercept-drug-vessel.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/931/523/coast-guard-helicopter-intercept-drug-vessel.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/1862/1046/coast-guard-helicopter-intercept-drug-vessel.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/720/405/coast-guard-helicopter-intercept-drug-vessel.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/1440/810/coast-guard-helicopter-intercept-drug-vessel.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> Coast Guard crews intercepted a suspected narco-terrorist vessel and seized 1000's of kilos of cocaine, officers mentioned. (Division of Homeland Safety)

DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin mentioned the restoration was a part of Operation Pacific Viper, a Coast Guard counter-drug operation launched in August 2025 within the Japanese Pacific.

"Operation Pacific Viper performs a central a part of President Trump’s battle towards the cartels at sea, reducing off their capacity to generate profits by trafficking their poison into our nation," Mullin mentioned in a press release. "This operation has already seized over 215,000 pounds of cocaine and has arrested over 160 suspected narco-traffickers."

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/343/192/coast-guard-cocaine-seizure-eastern-pacific.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/686/384/coast-guard-cocaine-seizure-eastern-pacific.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/672/378/coast-guard-cocaine-seizure-eastern-pacific.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/1344/756/coast-guard-cocaine-seizure-eastern-pacific.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/931/523/coast-guard-cocaine-seizure-eastern-pacific.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/1862/1046/coast-guard-cocaine-seizure-eastern-pacific.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/720/405/coast-guard-cocaine-seizure-eastern-pacific.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/1440/810/coast-guard-cocaine-seizure-eastern-pacific.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> U.S. Coast Guard crews show seized cocaine following a counter-drug operation within the Japanese Pacific, officers mentioned. (Division of Homeland Safety)

He added, "The courageous women and men of the Coast Guard are saving American lives by preserving these lethal medicine out of our communities and off our streets."

VIDEO CAPTURES US STRIKE ON SUSPECTED NARCO VESSEL IN EASTERN PACIFIC, COAST GUARD SEARCHES FOR 3 SURVIVORS

<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/343/192/us-coast-guard-drug-bust-4500-pounds-cocaine.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/686/384/us-coast-guard-drug-bust-4500-pounds-cocaine.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/672/378/us-coast-guard-drug-bust-4500-pounds-cocaine.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/1344/756/us-coast-guard-drug-bust-4500-pounds-cocaine.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/931/523/us-coast-guard-drug-bust-4500-pounds-cocaine.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/1862/1046/us-coast-guard-drug-bust-4500-pounds-cocaine.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/720/405/us-coast-guard-drug-bust-4500-pounds-cocaine.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/1440/810/us-coast-guard-drug-bust-4500-pounds-cocaine.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> The U.S. Coast Guard seized greater than 4,500 kilos of cocaine from a suspected narco-terrorist vessel within the Japanese Pacific, officers mentioned. (Division of Homeland Safety)

DHS mentioned the Coast Guard’s efforts to disrupt drug trafficking within the Japanese Pacific are a key a part of the Trump administration’s initiative to fight narco-terrorism and dismantle transnational legal organizations.

By Operation Pacific Viper, the Coast Guard has seized greater than 215,000 kilos of cocaine and apprehended greater than 160 suspected narco-traffickers, in line with DHS.

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<source media="(max-width: 767px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/343/192/Coast-Guard-Cutter-Escanaba.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/686/384/Coast-Guard-Cutter-Escanaba.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="192" width="343"><source media="(min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1023px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/672/378/Coast-Guard-Cutter-Escanaba.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/1344/756/Coast-Guard-Cutter-Escanaba.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="378" width="672"><source media="(min-width: 1024px) and (max-width: 1279px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/931/523/Coast-Guard-Cutter-Escanaba.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/1862/1046/Coast-Guard-Cutter-Escanaba.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="523" width="931"><source media="(min-width: 1280px)" srcset="https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/720/405/Coast-Guard-Cutter-Escanaba.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1, https://a57.foxnews.com/static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/ai-suite-images/010780ba-0349-4140-86f7-6dd0fef96115/1440/810/Coast-Guard-Cutter-Escanaba.jpeg?ve=1&tl=1 2x" height="405" width="720"> The U.S. Coast Guard seized cocaine valued at practically $34 million throughout an operation within the Japanese Pacific, officers mentioned. (U.S. Coast Guard)

Based on DHS, the operation included the Coast Guard's largest drug seizure in its historical past, when it recovered greater than 76,000 kilos of unlawful medicine in August 2025, valued at $473 million. The whole displays a number of interdictions mixed right into a single offload.

The Coast Guard additionally seized practically 50,000 kilos of illicit medicine in November 2025, valued at $362 million — one of many largest totals attributed to a Coast Guard cutter from a number of interdictions, in line with DHS.