Stunning video footage shows the moment that Coast Guard forces, including a sniper helicopter, disabled a drug boat on Tuesday before seizing it and confiscating over 20,000 pounds of cocaine.
Part of Operation Pacific Viper, which was launched in August, Tuesday’s operation resulted in 7.5 million potentially lethal doses of cocaine being seized, according to Fox News.
Over 20,000 pounds of cocaine seized by the crew of USCGC Cutter Munro — the largest at-sea interdiction in 18+ years.
Through #OperationPacificViper, @USCG has accelerated counter-narcotics operations across the Eastern Pacific and delivered historic results in the fight… pic.twitter.com/eQkCHeZDzW
— U.S. Coast Guard (@USCG) December 5, 2025
In October, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) applauded the Coast Guard for seizing over 100,000 pounds of cocaine since the launching of Operation Pacific Viper.
“Operation Pacific Viper has proven to be a crucial weapon in the fight against foreign drug traffickers and cartels in Latin America and has sent a clear message that we will disrupt, dismantle, and destroy their deadly business exploits wherever we find it,” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement at the time.
“In cutting off the flow of these deadly drugs, the Coast Guard is saving countless American lives and delivering on President Trump’s promise to Make America Safe Again and reestablish our maritime dominance,” she continued.
“The Coast Guard’s seizure of over 100,000 pounds of cocaine, in such a short timeframe, is a remarkable achievement,” Rear Adm. Jeffrey Novak, Deputy Commander of U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area, added. “When we say the Coast Guard is accelerating counter-narcotics operations, we mean it.”
“Alongside our partners and allies, our maritime fighting force is scouring drug smuggling routes in the Eastern Pacific and dismantling narco-terrorist networks. We are complementing the Coast Guard’s unique law enforcement authorities with cutting-edge capabilities to stop the flow of deadly drugs that threaten U.S. communities. As we mark our interdiction of 100,000 pounds, we are already working towards the next milestone,” he added.
🚨Operation Pacific Viper: 100K interdicted!@USCG, alongside partners and allies, has interdicted 100K+ lb of illicit narcotics in the Eastern Pacific since early August.
Despite the lapse in appropriations, our maritime fighting force continues to combat narco-terrorism.
This… pic.twitter.com/0dpb8tpnA3
— U.S. Coast Guard (@USCG) October 14, 2025
According to the Coast Guard, the operation resulted in 34 ships being intercepted and 86 people being taken into custody.
“In some instances, the Coast Guard [subsequently] sets the boats transporting the drugs on fire after seizing the narcotics and taking the vessel’s occupants into custody,” according to CBS News.
This practice is reportedly designed to keep the drug boats from becoming a hazard to other sailors in the area.
Not every boat has been intercepted. Some, particularly those affiliated with the murderous cartels, have been outright eliminated through drone strikes.
“While lawmakers have questioned the legality of the strikes — particularly after the White House revealed that a second strike was conducted against a vessel after the first one left survivors in September — the Trump administration has stated it has the authority to conduct those attacks,” Fox News notes.
On October 17th, at the direction of President Trump, the Department of War conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel affiliated with Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN), a Designated Terrorist Organization, that was operating in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility.
The… pic.twitter.com/1v7oR879LC
— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) October 19, 2025
This past week, congressional Democrats and Republican Sen. Rand Paul reportedly introduced a war powers resolution that’d prevent the president from continuing to blow up drug boats near Venezuela.
War Secretary Pete Hegseth has for his part vowed to continue the strikes.
“We’ve only just begun striking narco-boats and putting narco-terrorists at the bottom of the ocean because they’ve been poisoning the American people,” he said on Tuesday.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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