Major Drug Bust in the Eastern Pacific

The US Navy and Coast Guard recently detained three individuals involved in drug smuggling after they attempted to transport over 7,850 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific, as reported by the Navy on Thursday.

This operation took place on Sunday, based on a tip-off from a Navy helicopter crew that had spotted a suspicious ship. The Coast Guard was dispatched to investigate. The cocaine seized is estimated to be worth around $508.1 million.

A law enforcement team from the Coast Guard located the three smugglers aboard the vessel, and they were subsequently taken into custody by the USS Sampson.

According to the Navy, the USS Sampson had been deployed in the region since June 3. It left from a naval base in San Diego to assist with border security and anti-drug initiatives. “USS Sampson has been sent to support US Northern Command in achieving national security goals along the southern US borders,” stated Pentagon spokesman Kingsley Wilson. He emphasized, “Border security is national security. We will not stop until we have complete operational control of our borders.”

Interestingly, the suspected smuggler vessel was later deemed a “danger to navigation” and ultimately sank, as noted in a press release.

We’ve observed several actions recently aimed at curbing the influx of illegal drugs into the United States. For instance, during Donald Trump’s presidency, significant sanctions were implemented against Mexican banks allegedly involved in fentanyl trafficking, along with notable seizures of fentanyl and methamphetamine, as well as more sanctions on specific cartels.