Coast Guard Seizes $29 Million Worth of Cocaine in Miami

Authorities intercepted over 3,800 pounds of narcotics as part of ongoing anti-trafficking operations.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 11:00pm

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An extreme close-up of a pile of white powder cocaine, the texture and details of the drugs sharply illuminated by a harsh camera flash against a dark background, conceptually representing the interdiction of a large drug shipment.A major Coast Guard drug bust in Miami exposes the scale of transnational narcotics trafficking.Today in Miami

The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded more than 3,800 pounds of cocaine in Miami, marking another major drug interdiction tied to ongoing operations in the eastern Pacific. Officials estimate the seized narcotics have a street value of roughly $29 million.

Why it matters

This bust is part of Operation Pacific Viper, a broader effort targeting transnational drug trafficking networks. Authorities say they have intercepted well over 200,000 pounds of illegal drugs through coordinated maritime enforcement missions, disrupting criminal organizations and preventing large quantities of narcotics from reaching U.S. communities.

The details

The Coast Guard seized the 3,800 pounds of cocaine during an interdiction operation in the eastern Pacific. The narcotics have an estimated street value of $29 million.

  • The cocaine was offloaded in Miami on April 17, 2026.
  • The interdiction operation took place in late summer prior to the offload.

The players

U.S. Coast Guard

The U.S. Coast Guard is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement branch of the United States Armed Forces.

Operation Pacific Viper

A broader effort targeting transnational drug trafficking networks in the eastern Pacific region.

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The takeaway

This latest interdiction highlights the ongoing efforts by the U.S. Coast Guard and other law enforcement agencies to combat the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, disrupting the operations of transnational criminal organizations.