Video by U.S. Coast Guard Southeast

The U.S. Coast Guard says crews have offloaded about 2,570 pounds of cocaine worth more than $19.3 million following three interdictions in the Caribbean Sea.

Six suspected drug smugglers were also transferred to federal authorities Thursday at U.S. Coast Guard Base Miami Beach.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast, the seized drugs were recovered during operations involving the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma and the USS Billings, which had an embarked Coast Guard law enforcement detachment.

The offload was carried out by the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute.

The Coast Guard said the operation forms part of wider counter-narcotics efforts aimed at disrupting the movement of cocaine and other illicit drugs by sea.

It said the service seized more than 511,000 pounds of cocaine in 2025, more than three times its annual average.

Since the launch of Operation Pacific Viper in early August, the Coast Guard said it has seized more than 215,000 pounds of cocaine and apprehended 160 suspected narco-traffickers.

Assets involved included USCGC Tahoma, USS Billings, the Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, Tactical Law Enforcement Team South LEDET 405, Joint Interagency Task Force South and Coast Guard Southeast District watchstanders.