US Border: Sea Smuggling Routes Smashed by Feds & Allies
Cocaine smugglers targeted
The US Coast Guard, Customs & Border Protection, and their foreign allies continue to report large drug seizures as an ongoing campaign to cut off seaborne smuggling routes into the US continues. This week, the crew of the US Coast Guard Cutter Resolute ended a 59-day patrol, returning to its homeport of Saint Petersburg, Florida, with 12,600 pounds of confiscated cocaine, worth an estimated $93.2 million.
The Resolute was joined on its patrol by the cutters Escanaba, Tahoma, and Hamilton as they targeted a major drug-smuggling route running from Ecuador to the United States.
During the patrol, the Resolute intercepted three smuggling ships, each carrying large loads of cocaine. The first smugglers they encountered were carrying 5,000 pounds of cocaine. The second smuggling crew, pursued in heavy sea conditions, attempted (unsuccessfully) to escape by throwing more than 3,700 pounds of cocaine overboard. Less than 24 hours later, the Resolute intercepted a third smuggling boat with more than 3,900 pounds of cocaine aboard.
On July 12, 2025, U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) agents aboard an aircraft patrolling the Caribbean off Puerto Rico spotted a boat engaged in a smuggling operation around midnight and called in a CBP Coastal Interceptor Vessel to intercept it. The smugglers tried to outrun the CBP boat by heading toward the Puerto Rican coastline, which was about six miles away.
The smuggling crew of three Venezuelans managed to beach the boat at Playa Mario, Puerto Rico, but CBP Agents on land were waiting for them and arrested them. Their boat was carrying a 16-bale load of cocaine, which weighed 1,009 pounds and was worth $8.2 million.
Allies in the fight to cut off smugglers' sea lanes to the US are also doing their part. In recent weeks:
Colombia seized 3.2 metric tons of cocaine from one cartel smuggling boat.
Costa Rica’s Coast Guard seized almost 2,150 pounds of cocaine from another.
Peru seized 112 kilos of cocaine from a third smuggling boat.
The Mexican Navy seized over half a ton of cocaine off the coast of Oaxaca.
How much of an impact do you think these busts are making on busy sea smuggling routes?
Share your opinion in the comments to this article.
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
My goodness…it’s relentless.
ALOT!