In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, the U.S. Coast Guard has successfully seized over five tons of illicit narcotics during a 57-day patrol in the Caribbean Sea. The operation, led by the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Diligence (WMEC 616), resulted in the confiscation of 8,700 pounds of cocaine, valued at an estimated $64.5 million, alongside 1,500 pounds of marijuana. The contraband was intercepted in two major operations conducted in August and September 2025. The first interdiction occurred on August 7, approximately 136 miles southwest of Negril, Jamaica, where a suspicious vessel was boarded and the marijuana seized. The second operation took place on September 6, about 240 miles north of Panama, where the crew intercepted a fast-moving vessel laden with cocaine. The seized drugs were offloaded at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, Florida, on September 22. Commander Colin McKee, commanding officer of the Diligence, praised the crew’s efforts and highlighted the importance of these operations in preventing illegal drugs from entering the United States. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to intensify its efforts to disrupt and seize transshipments of cocaine and other illicit drugs, which are often linked to foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal groups. These operations underscore the critical role of interagency and international coordination in combating narco-terrorism on the high seas.
US Coast Guard seizes 5 tons of narcotics worth over $64.5 million in Caribbean Sea bust
