Campaign Martillo

Campaign Martillo (Hammer) is a U.S., European, and Western Hemisphere effort targeting illicit trafficking routes in coastal waters along the Central American isthmus. U.S. military participation is led by Joint Interagency Task Force South, a component of U.S. Southern Command.

Recent Photos

A Coast Guard small boat crew boarding a vessel suspected of drug smuggling operations approximately 120 miles northwest of Ecuador. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma’s crew offloaded approximately 9,970 pounds of cocaine worth $73.7 million, Tuesday, at Port Everglades. (Courtesy asset)

Coast Guard offloads nearly $74 million in illicit drugs interdicted in the Eastern Pacific - A Coast Guard small boat crew boarding a vessel suspected of drug smuggling operations approximately 120 miles northwest of Ecuador. U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma’s crew offloaded approximately 9,970 pounds of cocaine worth $73.7 million, Tuesday, at Port Everglades. (Courtesy asset)

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma standing at parade rest on the flight deck at Port Everglades, Florida, July 29, 2025. The seized contraband was the result of an interdiction on June 24, 2025, approximately 120 miles northwest of Ecuador. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)

Coast Guard offloads nearly $74 million in illicit drugs interdicted in the Eastern Pacific - The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma standing at parade rest on the flight deck at Port Everglades, Florida, July 29, 2025. The seized contraband was the result of an interdiction on June 24, 2025, approximately 120 miles northwest of Ecuador. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)

The crew of USCGC Resolute (WMEC 620) pose for a group photo during a drug offload at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, July 17, 2025. Resolute deployed in support of Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-South), an interagency and international task force that conducts counter-illicit trafficking and security cooperation operations in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Riley Perkofski)

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Resolute returns home, offloads approximately $93.2 million worth of drugs in St. Petersburg - The crew of USCGC Resolute (WMEC 620) pose for a group photo during a drug offload at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, July 17, 2025. Resolute deployed in support of Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-South), an interagency and international task force that conducts counter-illicit trafficking and security cooperation operations in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Riley Perkofski)

U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Tyler Mace, a gunner’s mate assigned to USCGC Resolute (WMEC 620), stands overwatch of illicit narcotics during a drug offload at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, July 17, 2025. Resolute spent several weeks as the only U.S. Coast Guard cutter in the Eastern Pacific, playing a critical role in maintaining maritime domain awareness and operational coverage across a vast area, spanning over one million square miles. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Riley Perkofski)

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Resolute returns home, offloads approximately $93.2 million worth of drugs in St. Petersburg - U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Tyler Mace, a gunner’s mate assigned to USCGC Resolute (WMEC 620), stands overwatch of illicit narcotics during a drug offload at Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg, July 17, 2025. Resolute spent several weeks as the only U.S. Coast Guard cutter in the Eastern Pacific, playing a critical role in maintaining maritime domain awareness and operational coverage across a vast area, spanning over one million square miles. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Riley Perkofski)

A U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) crewmember prepares contraband to be offloaded from the Munro while moored in San Diego, Nov. 19, 2024. The offload is a result of eleven separate suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions or events off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America by the Coast Guard Cutters Munro, Vigorous, Hamilton, and the USS St. Louis in September and October. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Wiley.

241119-G-BB085-1084 - A U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro (WMSL 755) crewmember prepares contraband to be offloaded from the Munro while moored in San Diego, Nov. 19, 2024. The offload is a result of eleven separate suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions or events off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America by the Coast Guard Cutters Munro, Vigorous, Hamilton, and the USS St. Louis in September and October. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Wiley.

A crew member from Coast Guard Cutter Diligence carries a bale of cocaine during a drug offload at Port Everglades, Florida, Sept. 9, 2024. The offload was a result of three separate drug interdictions by Coast Guard and international partner crews in the Caribbean Sea worth an estimated $54 million dollars. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Rodriguez)

Coast Guard offloads more than $54 million in illegal narcotics interdicted in Caribbean Sea - A crew member from Coast Guard Cutter Diligence carries a bale of cocaine during a drug offload at Port Everglades, Florida, Sept. 9, 2024. The offload was a result of three separate drug interdictions by Coast Guard and international partner crews in the Caribbean Sea worth an estimated $54 million dollars. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Rodriguez)

The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba pose with more than 3,400 pounds of cocaine and 4,410 pounds of marijuana with a combined assessed street value of approximately $50 million in Port Everglades, Florida, Aug. 23, 2024. Escanaba's crew worked alongside an embarked Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron aircrew, Law Enforcement Detachment 107 from Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team Pacific, and interagency and international partners to interdict illicit narcotics in the international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Rodriguez)

Coast Guard offloads nearly $50 million in illegal narcotics interdicted in Eastern Pacific Ocean - The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba pose with more than 3,400 pounds of cocaine and 4,410 pounds of marijuana with a combined assessed street value of approximately $50 million in Port Everglades, Florida, Aug. 23, 2024. Escanaba's crew worked alongside an embarked Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron aircrew, Law Enforcement Detachment 107 from Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team Pacific, and interagency and international partners to interdict illicit narcotics in the international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Rodriguez)

A U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba (WMEC 907) boat crew destroys a go-fast vessel interdicted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, July 28, 2024. The crew of USCGC Escanaba offloaded more than 3,400 pounds of cocaine and 4,410 pounds of marijuana with a combined assessed street value of approximately $50 million in Port Everglades, Florida, Aug. 23, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nadia Sands)

Coast Guard offloads nearly $50 million in illegal narcotics interdicted in Eastern Pacific Ocean - A U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba (WMEC 907) boat crew destroys a go-fast vessel interdicted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, July 28, 2024. The crew of USCGC Escanaba offloaded more than 3,400 pounds of cocaine and 4,410 pounds of marijuana with a combined assessed street value of approximately $50 million in Port Everglades, Florida, Aug. 23, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nadia Sands)

A Coast Guard law enforcement detachment crew detains suspected smugglers on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea, Aug. 8, 2024. This interdiction resulted in a drug offload worth more than $14 million. (Photo by HMS Trent crew)

Coast Guard offloads more than $14 million in illegal narcotics interdicted by Royal Navy partners in Caribbean Sea - A Coast Guard law enforcement detachment crew detains suspected smugglers on a vessel in the Caribbean Sea, Aug. 8, 2024. This interdiction resulted in a drug offload worth more than $14 million. (Photo by HMS Trent crew)

Bales of cocaine stacked on a pier at Base Miami Beach on August 14, 2024. This offload was the result of drug interdiction efforts by Coast Guard and Navy crews in the international waters of Caribbean. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)

240813-G-FL647-1005 - Bales of cocaine stacked on a pier at Base Miami Beach on August 14, 2024. This offload was the result of drug interdiction efforts by Coast Guard and Navy crews in the international waters of Caribbean. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)

A crew member of the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered carries a bale of cocaine to shore for destruction at Base Miami Beach on August 14, 2024. Once ashore custody of interdicted narcotics are transferred to partner agencies. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)

240813-G-FL647-1004 - A crew member of the Coast Guard Cutter Robert Yered carries a bale of cocaine to shore for destruction at Base Miami Beach on August 14, 2024. Once ashore custody of interdicted narcotics are transferred to partner agencies. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)

Suspected drug smugglers standing on top of a sinking vessel approximately 90 miles south of Haiti on July 24, 2024. The USS St. Louis launched a small boat crew to rescue the suspected smugglers after their vessel capsized. (Courtesy photo)

240724-G-G0107-2001 - Suspected drug smugglers standing on top of a sinking vessel approximately 90 miles south of Haiti on July 24, 2024. The USS St. Louis launched a small boat crew to rescue the suspected smugglers after their vessel capsized. (Courtesy photo)

Crew members of the Coast Guard Cutter Forward offloading illicit drugs at Port Everglades, Florida, July 22, 2024. This offload was the result of three separate cases of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)

240722-G-FL647-1001 - Crew members of the Coast Guard Cutter Forward offloading illicit drugs at Port Everglades, Florida, July 22, 2024. This offload was the result of three separate cases of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)

Recent Operation Martillo News

May 13, 2025

USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul Scores Another Bust

April 17, 2025

USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul Makes Multiple Drug Busts

Feb. 25, 2025

USS St. Louis (LCS 19) Completes Maiden Deployment to Fourth Fleet

Overview of U.S. military support to Campaign Martillo

See SOUTHCOM's overall efforts to Counter Transnational Criminal Organizations

The U.S. contribution to the multinational detection, monitoring and interdiction operation includes U.S. Navy and Coast Guard vessels, aircraft from U.S. federal law enforcement agencies, and military and law enforcement units from various nations working together to deny Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs) the ability to exploit these transshipment routes for the movement of narcotics, precursor chemicals, bulk cash, and weapons along Central American shipping routes.

Fourteen countries have participated: Belize, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, France, Guatemala, Honduras, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Panama, Spain, United Kingdom and the United States. Chile has also contributed.

More information

Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF South)

JIATF South, in conjunction with partner nations, leverages all-domain capabilities to target, detect and monitor illicit drug trafficking in the air and maritime domains, within the Joint Operating Area (JOA), facilitating interdiction and apprehension to reduce the flow of drugs and degrade and dismantle TCOs. Learn more about Joint Interagency Task Force South

Department of Defense role

While the Department of Defense is not the lead agency responsible for countering TCOs, its unique capabilities can be leveraged to support other U.S. government and partner nation efforts. SOUTHCOM is aligned with and supports lead agencies, such as the Departments of Justice and State, as well as partner nations in the TCO fight.

Department of Defense interdiction role explained

The DoD is the lead federal agency in efforts to detect and monitor aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs towards the United States. Based on information gathered by JIATF South-coordinated operations, U.S. law enforcement agencies and partner nations take the lead in interdicting drug runners. U.S. military interdiction involvement, if any, is in support of those law enforcement agencies.

Typically, U.S. military personnel are involved in supporting an interdiction during maritime operations in international waters, where U.S. Navy ships and helicopters join the U.S. Coast Guard and partner nation forces to patrol and intercept suspected traffickers. The actual interdictions – boarding, search, seizures and arrests – are led and conducted by embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments or partner nation drug law enforcement agencies.

Campaign Martillo