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Tag: illicit trafficking

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.

May 13, 2025

USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul Scores Another Bust

CARIBBEAN SEA — 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 Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS 21) departs Naval Station Mayport for her maiden deployment, Mar. 26, 2025. LCS 21 is deploying to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations is support of counter-illicit drug trafficking operations.

April 17, 2025

USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul Makes Multiple Drug Busts

CARIBBEAN SEA — The Freedom-variant littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul (LCS 21), in coordination with joint partners, stopped two alleged drug smuggling operations in the Caribbean Sea within a 72-hour span.

The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) and Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 50 work together to intercept a self-propelled semi-submersible drug smuggling vessel (SPSS), in the Atlantic Ocean, March 22, 2024. Leyte Gulf is on a scheduled deployment in the U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command area of operations, employed by U.S. Fourth Fleet to support joint and combined military operations, which includes counter-illicit drug trafficking missions in the Caribbean and the Atlantic.

April 8, 2024

USS Leyte Gulf Takes Down Semi-Submersible Vessel

ATLANTIC OCEAN — The Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET), has made multiple drug interdictions in the U.S. Southern Command (USSOUTHCOM) area of operations (AOR).

Photo of a single engine aircraft the United States donated to the Dominican Republic.

Feb. 20, 2024

US Government Donates Aircraft to Dominican Republic to Combat Narcotics Trafficking

The United States Government, through the Department of Defense, donated an aircraft valued at more than US$8 million to the Ministry of Defense of the Dominican Republic, in support of the shared fight against illicit trafficking of narcotics by transnational criminal organizations and in support of the country's efforts to provide humanitarian assistance in cases of disasters.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute pose in front of interdicted drugs, Jan. 29, 2024, in St. Petersburg, FL. Drug interdiction is one of the 11 statutory missions of the Coast Guard. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)

Jan. 30, 2024

Coast Guard Cutter Resolute returns home, offloads approximately $55M worth of drugs in Tampa Bay

Coast Guard Cutter Resolute (WMEC 620) and crew returned from a 60-day counterdrug patrol and offloaded approximately $55 million worth of illicit narcotics, Monday, in St. Petersburg.

A crew member from Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell offloads illicit narcotics at Coast Guard Base Miami, Jan. 9, 2024.

Jan. 10, 2024

Coast Guard offloads more than $32 million in illegal narcotics

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell offloaded more than 2,450 pounds of cocaine with an assessed street value of approximately $32.2 million in Miami, Tuesday.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba’s crew offload more than 7,700 pounds of cocaine worth over $102 million at Port Everglades, Florida, Nov. 15, 2023. The offloaded drugs were interdicted during four separate cases in the international waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean by the crews of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, Escanaba, a U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron aircrew, a Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team, and federal and international partners.

Nov. 21, 2023

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba returns home to Portsmouth, Virginia, after interdicting $102 million worth of illegal narcotics

The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba returned home to Portsmouth, Monday, following a 51-day patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Escanaba’s crew disrupted illegal narcotics smuggling, interdicting 3,520 kilograms of cocaine valued at more than $102 million.

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant (WMEC-617) conducts a joint operation with the USS Farragut (DDG-99) to interdict a drug smuggling vessel, Oct. 15, 2023, in the Caribbean Sea. During the patrol, Vigilant’s crew disrupted illegal narcotics smuggling, interdicting more than 5,600 pounds of illicit drugs.

Nov. 9, 2023

USS Farragut Going Full Speed Ahead Making Multiple Drug Busts

Caribbean Sea — USS Farragut (DDG 99) has found success in stopping alleged illicit drug traffickers in the Caribbean, with four drug busts in October.

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter James pose with more than $445 million in illegal drugs seized by Coast Guard and partner agencies in Port Everglades, Florida, Oct 26, 2023. The offload is a result of suspected drug smuggling interdictions in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Rodriguez.)

Oct. 30, 2023

Coast Guard offloads nearly $500 million in illegal narcotics at Port Everglades

The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James offloaded more than 33,200 pounds of cocaine and 12,400 pounds of marijuana worth approximately $448 million in Port Everglades, Oct. 26.

Bags of interdicted cocaine lay on the deck of a Coast Guard cutter

Oct. 18, 2023

Coast Guard Cutter Valiant returns home after $30 million drug seizure

During a recent patrol, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Valiant (WMEC 621) interdicted a go-fast vessel with over 97 pounds of cocaine and assisted the Royal Netherlands Navy patrol vessel HNLMS Groningen (P843) with two additional interdictions. Overall, Valiant seized or assisted in the seizure of more than $30 million in illegal narcotics.