The US coast guard (USCG) offloaded 34.5 tons of drugs, including approximately 28 tons of cocaine and 6.5 tons of marijuana, at Port Everglades, Florida, on 25/8. This marks the largest drug seizure in the agency's history. Images released by the USCG show the ship's deck filled with bags of the seized narcotics.

The drugs, estimated to be worth 473 million USD, were seized during 19 operations in international waters near Ecuador, Venezuela, and Mexico between 26/6 and 18/8. The USCG intercepted 11 speedboats transporting the drugs and arrested 34 suspects.

Operation Pacific Viper resulted in the largest single seizure of the campaign, with 4 tons of cocaine confiscated near Socorro Island, Mexico.

The US coast guard offloads 34.5 tons of seized drugs in Florida on 25/8. Image: X/US Coast Guard

The US coast guard offloads 34.5 tons of seized drugs in Florida on 25/8. Image: X/US Coast Guard

US officials stated that the 28 tons of seized cocaine could produce 23 million lethal doses, enough to "kill the entire population of Florida," the third most populous state in the country.

In 2021, the USCG seized over 27 tons of drugs, primarily cocaine, worth 1.4 billion USD, in a single operation. Earlier this year, the South Dakota Highway Patrol also set a record, seizing 94 kg of methamphetamine from an undocumented immigrant.

Duc Trung (NY Post, AP)