FIRST ON FOX: The U.S. Coast Guard has confiscated over 75,000 pounds of cocaine and detained nearly 60 suspected narco-terrorists and drug smugglers since the initiation of Operation Pacific Viper in August, as reported by the Department of Homeland Security.
Operation Pacific Viper is a collaborative initiative between the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy, aimed at addressing the surge of illegal drugs entering the U.S. as part of President Donald Trump’s broader strategy to combat drug cartels.
Footage provided to Fox News Digital shows the Coast Guard cutter Seneca, involved in Operation Pacific Viper, successfully executing a drug interdiction on September 10, northeast of the Galápagos Islands, which led to the seizure of 5,500 pounds of cocaine from a low-profile vessel.
This operation also conducted two strikes against suspected drug-laden vessels originating from Venezuela. The first strike resulted in the elimination of 11 alleged narco-terrorists associated with the Tren de Aragua (TdA), while the second strike targeted three individuals.
“You had massive amounts of drugs,” Trump stated to reporters on September 3 following the first strike. “We have tapes of them speaking. It was massive amounts of drugs coming into our country to kill a lot of people. And, everybody fully understands that fact. You see it, you see the bags of drugs all over the boat, and they were hit. Obviously, they won’t be doing it again. And I think a lot of other people won’t be doing it again. When they watch that tape, they’re going to say, let’s not do this. We have to protect our country and we’re going to. Venezuela has been a very bad actor.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.