USCG Calhoun Offloads $140.9M in Illegal Narcotics From Five At-Sea Busts
Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun's crew offload more than 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana at Port Everglades, May 16. The seized contraband resulted from five recent interdictions in the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean.
Central American Security: Exercise CENTAM Guardian 2025
More than 900 service members and disaster-relief specialists from Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and the United States are training together during the exercise in Guatemala.
Hospital Ship to Deploy to Latin America and the Caribbean for Continuing Promise Mission
USNS Comfort will deploy this June-August as part of the Continuing Promise mission. The ship is scheduled to visit Grenada, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic.
Drug Bust: USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul
The littoral combat ship interdicted a suspected drug smuggling vessel May 1 while supporting Joint Interagency Task Force South. This is the ship's third successful interdiction during its maiden deployment.
Strengthening Caribbean Security: Exercise Tradewinds 2025
TRADEWINDS 25 (TW25), hosted by Trinidad and Tobago, brought together more than 1,000 personnel from 26 nations, six regional organizations, and multiple U.S. government agencies to train in land, air, sea, and cyber domains.

LATEST NEWS AND RELEASES

Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun offloads more than $140.9 million in illegal narcotics at Port Everglades
Crew members aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759) pose before preparing to offload pallets of illegal narcotics in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. Calhoun’s crew offloaded more than 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana valued at approximately $140.9 million in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Walker)
May 16, 2025 - U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun’s crew offloaded approximately 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana, worth an estimated $140.9 million, Friday, at Port Everglades. The seized contraband was the result of five interdictions in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea by interagency partners.
Airmen Test Combat Readiness During Caribbean Exercise
Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Hailey Lisska, left, instructs a course on tactical combat casualty care for members of the U.S. Air Force, the Trinidad and Tobago military, and the French army during Tradewinds 25 in Teteron Bay, Trinidad and Tobago, April 30, 2025. The annual exercise enhances regional stability and demonstrates U.S. coordination with allies and partners.
May 16, 2025 - Special operations airmen tested resiliency, adaptiveness and ability to integrate logistics with other nations during Exercise Tradewinds 25 in Trinidad and Tobago, Antigua, Martinique and Puerto Rico.
US, Dominican Republic Militaries Partner to Develop Enlisted Leaders
DOMINICAN REPUBLIC (May 1, 2025) Noncommissioned officers from the United States and the Dominican Republic engage in a guided discussion with enlisted service members from the Dominican Republic during a weeklong subject matter expert exchange at the School of Infantry for the Enlisted Military of the Dominican Republic May 1, 2025. U.S. service members from Southern Command, the Western Hemisphere Institute for Security Cooperation, out of Fort Moore, Georgia, and the U.S. Army’s Noncommissioned Officer Leadership Center of Excellence out of Fort Bliss, Texas, led a course alongside Dominican noncommissioned officers on the professional development of enlisted military members and career progression.
May 15, 2025 - A group of enlisted leaders from the United States Army kicked off a subject matter expert exchange with fellow enlisted leaders from the Dominican Republic’s military just outside of the Caribbean nation’s capital in Santo Domingo – further progressing the professional development of noncommissioned officers in the Dominican armed services.
Arkansas Guard Participates in CENTAM Guardian 2025 in Guatemala
U.S. and Honduran infantrymen ruck at Mariscal Zavala, Guatemala, May 12, 2025. As part of CENTAM Guardian 25, infantrymen from Honduras, U.S., El Salvador and Guatemala, rucked to their exercise site where they will execute specific survival tactics in the Guatemalan jungles.
May 14, 2025 - More than 60 Arkansas National Guardsmen are participating in CENTAM Guardian 2025 in Guatemala. CENTAM Guardian 2025 is an annual multi-national exercise designed to strengthen interoperability, information sharing and counter-threat capabilities between the United States and participating Central American and Caribbean partner nations.
Continuing Promise 2025 Set to Begin
150410-N-DJ347-103 CARIBBEAN SEA (April 10, 2015) The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) sit at anchor during Continuing Promise 2015. Continuing Promise is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored and U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet-conducted deployment to conduct civil-military operations including humanitarian-civil assistance, subject matter expert exchanges, medical, dental, veterinary and engineering support and disaster response to partner nations and to show U.S. support and commitment to Central and South America and the Caribbean. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gary Johnson/Released)
May 14, 2025 - The U.S. Navy Mercy-class hospital ship USNS Comfort (T-AH 20) will deploy this June-August to the U.S. Southern Command area of operations as part of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet's Continuing Promise 2025 mission. After several months of detailed planning, USNS Comfort is scheduled to visit Grenada, Panama, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic during the nearly three month-long mission.
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PHOTOS

Soldiers lay on their stomach in a grassy field practicing shooting
Guatemalan fire fighters practice hazardous material training on a mannequin
Guatemalan sailors practice a drug interdiction with two kneeling U.S. service members
U.S. navy member stands on a boat with Guatemalan sailors
Law enforcement crew members aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759) conduct a boarding on a fishing vessel suspected of drug smuggling approximately 1,200 miles west of Las Palmas, Canary Islands, April 12, 2025. Calhoun’s crew offloaded approximately 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana, worth an estimated $140.9 million, at Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759) moors at Port Everglades for a drug offload, May 16, 2025. Calhoun’s crew offloaded more than 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana valued at approximately $140.9 million in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Walker)
Crew members aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759) pose before preparing to offload pallets of illegal narcotics in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. Calhoun’s crew offloaded more than 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana valued at approximately $140.9 million in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Walker)
Bales of illegal narcotics are offloaded by crew members of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759) in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. Calhoun’s crew offloaded more than 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana valued at approximately $140.9 million in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Walker)
Crew members aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759) wraps a pallet of illegal narcotics in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. Calhoun’s crew offloaded more than 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana valued at approximately $140.9 million in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Walker)
Law enforcement boat crew members assigned to U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759) interdict a low-profile vessel suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea, May 7, 2025. Calhoun’s crew offloaded more than 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana valued at approximately $140.9 million in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
Petty Officer 2nd Class David Hopkins, a gunner’s mate aboard U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759), stands watch over illegal narcotics in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. Calhoun’s crew offloaded more than 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana valued at approximately $140.9 million in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Walker)
Bales of illegal narcotics are offloaded by crew members of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759) in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. Calhoun’s crew offloaded more than 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana valued at approximately $140.9 million in Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. (Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jessica Walker)
A law enforcement boat crew assigned to U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759) interdicts a vessel suspected of smuggling narcotics, seizing approximately 3,135 pounds of cocaine and 14 pounds of marijuana in the Carribean Sea, May 15, 2025. USCGC Calhoun’s crew offloaded approximately 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana, worth an estimated $140.9 million, on Friday, 16 May, in Fort Lauderdale. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
A law enforcement boat crew assigned to U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759) interdicts a vessel suspected of smuggling narcotics, seizing approximately 1,371 pounds of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea, May 5, 2025. USCGC Calhoun’s crew offloaded approximately 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana, worth an estimated $140.9 million, on Friday, 16 May, in Fort Lauderdale. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
A law enforcement boat crew assigned to U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun (WMSL 759) conducts a boarding of a vessel suspected of smuggling narcotics approximately 70 miles off the coast of the Dominican Republic, May 5, 2025. USCGC Calhoun’s crew offloaded approximately 19,055 pounds of cocaine and marijuana, worth an estimated $140.9 million, at Port Everglades, May 16, 2025. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
A man in a green uniform stands in front of a large group of sitting firefighters and speaks.
A soldier stares up at a helicopter performing disaster relief training.
A Guatemalan soldier stands inside a helicopter while speaking to a group of firefighters.
A group of firefighters and solider look at a water-carrying basket designed to be suspended from helicopters during training.
Military personnel sit at desks.
Military personnel sit at desks.
Military personnel sit at desks.
Military personnel sit at desks.
Military personnel sit at desks.
Military personnel sit at desks.
Military personnel sit at desks.
Military personnel sit at desks.
Photo of a large group of military personnel.
A man in a camouflage military uniform hand a plaque to another military person.
A man in a camouflage military uniform hand a certificate to another military person.
Military men in camouflage uniforms shake hands.
A man in a military uniform stands and speaks to sitting military personnel.
U.S. and Honduran infantrymen ruck at Mariscal Zavala, Guatemala, May 12, 2025. As part of CENTAM Guardian 25, infantrymen from Honduras, U.S., El Salvador and Guatemala, rucked to their exercise site where they will execute specific survival tactics in the Guatemalan jungles.
A U.S. Army infantryman assigned to the Bravo Company, 2-153 Infantry, Arkansas Army National Guard, gives marching orders during a CENTAM Guardian 25 jungle exercise event, at Mariscal Zavala, Guatemala, May 12, 2025.
A man in a a camouflage briefs other military personnel in a jungle setting.
A group of people in camouflage military uniforms sit and receive training from instructors.
A formation of people in military uniforms hold national flags.
A formation of people in military uniforms stand with man in a dark blue suit in the center.
A formation of people in military uniforms hold flags with large formations of military personnel in the background.
A group of men in reflective safety vests speak to each other.
A group of men in reflective safety vests speak to each other.
A group of men in reflective safety vests speak to each other.
The littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS 21) interdicted a suspected drug smuggling vessel May 1 while supporting Joint Interagency Task Force South. This is the ship's third successful interdiction during its maiden deployment. In mid-April, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul interdicted two vessels, confiscating 580 kilograms (1,279 pounds) of cocaine valued at $9,463,860 and 1,125 kilograms (2,480 pounds) of marijuana valued at $2,807,360. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul is assigned to Commander, Task Force 45, the 4th Fleet surface task force responsible for combined naval operations, building partnerships in Latin America and the Caribbean, and supporting Joint Interagency Task Force South's counter-drug trafficking operations. LEDETs are deployable specialized Coast Guard forces that enforce U.S. laws and treaties at sea. U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet supports U.S. Southern Command by employing maritime forces in cooperative security operations to maintain access, enhance interoperability, and build partnerships to promote regional security and stability in the Caribbean and Central and South America.
One of the 137th Special Operations Wing mission sustainment team’s forward operating site sits near a flightline during TRADEWINDS 25 (TW25), Trinidad and Tobago, April 25, 2025.
A group of five people pose for a standing group photo.
A man in a while military uniform walks and reviews a formation of service members in brown uniforms.
A group photo of service members in uniform.
A man and a woman in white military uniforms walk and talk.
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Thane Murphy, intelligence analyst, and Sgt. Victor Navarro, right, cyber warfare operator, Defensive Cyberspace Operations Internal Defensive Measures, and U.S. Army Capt. William McKinnon, center, cyber mission element lead, Florida Army National Guard, conduct defensive cyber operations during exercise Southern Defender 25 in Augusta, Georgia, May 6, 2025. SD 25 is a defensive cyberspace operations focused exercise designed for the U.S. and Allies and partners to collectively strengthen cyberspace awareness, exercise joint all domain operations and counter harmful actors while building multi-lateral capacity. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel Qin)
U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jessica Cusson, senior enlisted leader, 114th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, Florida Air National Guard, conducts defensive cyber operations during exercise Southern Defender 25 in Augusta, Georgia, May 6, 2025. SD 25 is a defensive cyberspace operations focused exercise designed for the U.S. and Allies and partners to collectively strengthen cyberspace awareness, exercise joint all domain operations and counter harmful actors while building multi-lateral capacity. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Samuel Qin)

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Navy Adm. Alvin Holsey is the commander of U.S. Southern Command. He assumed command Nov. 7, 2024.

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A Network of Mutual Support: Total Engagement for All Members of U.S. Southern Command, or TEAM SOUTHCOM, is a command-sponsored organization that aims to support command service members, civilians and family members -- in South Florida and assigned throughout the region.