Coast Guard Offloads Record 76,000 Pounds of Drugs at Port Everglades

Historic Drug Interdiction

• ⚓ The US Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton offloaded over 76,000 pounds of contraband at Port Everglades.
• 🏆 This marks the largest cocaine offload in Coast Guard history, with an additional significant amount of marijuana.
• 🗺️ The drugs were seized during counterdrug operations conducted over several months in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea.

Scale and Value of the Bust

• 💰 The total haul is valued at over $473 million on the street.
• ❄️ The seizure included more than 60,000 pounds of cocaine and nearly 16,000 pounds of marijuana.

Message to Traffickers and National Security Threat

• 🚢 A strong message is being sent to drug traffickers operating on the high seas.
• ⚠️ Officials emphasized that the United States Coast Guard and its partners will find those involved in smuggling drugs.
• 🇻🇪 Many of the interdicted vessels originated from Venezuela, identified as a haven for organized crime gangs responsible for bringing drugs and violence to the U.S., posing a threat to national security.

Next Steps for Seized Contraband

• 🔬 The seized contraband will be transferred to the DEA for further processing.
• 🤝 The operations involved collaboration with international partners.