Coast Guard Seizes $74 Million Worth Of Cocaine, Detains 5 Suspected Smugglers

The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Calhoun seized $74 million worth of cocaine in a single interdiction in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean this month, and detained five suspected smugglers.

On April 12, the Calhoun spotted a “suspicious” fishing vessel “exhibiting behavior consistent with narcotic trafficking” in international waters approximately 1,265 miles west of Las Palmas, Canary Islands. The crew launched a small boat and intercepted the vessel.

The crew seized approximately 10,000 pounds of cocaine and apprehended five suspected smugglers, who now remain in U.S. custody pending prosecution.

“This interdiction demonstrates the Coast Guards unwavering commitment to combating transnational criminal organizations (TCOs),” Vice Adm. Nathan Moore, commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area, said in a statement. “Our dedicated crews, in close coordination with interagency and international partners, continue to disrupt the flow of illicit narcotics, which serves as a critical strategic action that disrupts the financial networks of TCOs, undermining their ability to fund further illicit activities that threaten our communities.” 

The Calhoun, which was commissioned in 2024, is homeported in North Charleston, S.C.