The U.S. Coast Guard carried out a significant drug bust in San Diego, offloading more than $275 million worth of illegal cocaine.
The crew of the Cutter Waesche seized 37,256 pounds of cocaine on Thursday. Officials say the haul resulted from 11 separate drug-smuggling vessel interdictions conducted between December 2024 and February 2025. The operations took place off the coasts of Mexico, Central America, and South America.
During a press conference, Coast Guard officials emphasized that drug trafficking serves as a primary financial resource for cartels, which smuggle illegal cocaine and fentanyl into the United States. In response, the Coast Guard is ramping up efforts to disrupt these transnational smuggling operations and prevent illicit drugs from reaching U.S. communities.
“This offload represents a small part of a large and enduring multinational, multi-agency effort to combat international drug cartels and deter the flow of illegal narcotics coming to the United States, said Vice Adm. Andrew J. Tiongson, commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area.
Earlier this month, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a 25-foot panga-style vessel approximately 15 miles off the coast of Mission Bay, California. The boat carried 16 individuals who, upon initial interviews, claimed to be from Mexico. All were transferred into U.S. Border Patrol custody.
The interception occurred around midnight when the cutter Active notified the Joint Harbor Operations Center of a vessel with about 15-20 people on board, located a mile south of their position. Panga boats, known for their narrow, high-bowed design, are often utilized by smugglers for transporting drugs and people.
The cutter Active, along with a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations boat crew, deployed boarding teams to assess the situation. Upon investigation, they discovered the 16 immigrants aboard the panga.
This incident follows a series of recent maritime interceptions by the Coast Guard. Last week, the U.S. Coast Guard conducted several “alien expulsion flight operations” between California and Texas, which included intercepting a boat carrying illegal migrants that was sinking in U.S. waters. In that operation, all individuals aboard the sinking vessel were safely removed and transferred to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
