The United States government reported this Saturday the seizure of 9 tons of cocaine (20,000 pounds) in an anti-drug operation against a vessel in the Eastern Pacific, which it called its largest maritime interdiction in 18 years. According to a message on X from the Coast Guard published Friday night and shared by government accounts today, the seizure corresponded to the Munro cutter, which is based in Alameda (California) and patrols the Pacific as part of "Operation Pacific Viper." The description of the operation's video indicates that it took place on Tuesday, December 2nd, and featured a Coast Guard tactical squadron helicopter that "disables a fast vessel" at sea with several shots, apparently to its engine. Another video shows the Munro cutter approaching the "vessel suspected of drug smuggling" and at least two officials boarding the boat. At least one crew member is also visible, about whom the government has provided no information on their status or whether they are in custody. The X account of the Department of Homeland Security shared the videos with the slogan: "Operation Pacific Viper ELIMINATES narco-terrorists in the Eastern Pacific," which suggests that the crew members are dead. President Donald Trump also shared the operation's videos on Truth Social today, which are published on the Defense Department's public platform. "Through Operation Pacific Viper, the Coast Guard has accelerated counter-narcotics operations in the Eastern Pacific and delivered historic results in the fight against narco-terrorists," the Coast Guard added on X. In mid-October, the Coast Guard reported that Operation Pacific Viper had seized a total of 45 tons (100,000 pounds) of cocaine in 34 interdictions and arrested 86 people suspected of drug trafficking in about two and a half months since its launch.
