The Department of Justice and U.S. Coast Guard intercepted 45,000 pounds of cocaine valued at more than $500 million, senior DOJ officials announced Wednesday.
Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel spoke at Port Everglades, Florida, emphasizing the life-saving impact of the massive drug seizure.
“We’ve saved thousands of lives through this incredible cooperation,” Bondi said, adding that the shipments were strongly linked to the CJNG and Sinaloa cartels. She highlighted how the Coast Guard deployed drones, aircraft, and ships to intercept the traffickers.
Patel issued a direct warning to the cartels, signaling a shift in strategy under new DOJ leadership.
“We’re dismantling the ‘next-man-up’ mindset that’s been driving these Mexican cartels for generations,” he said. “No more.”
The Coast Guard explained that the 11-day operation was carried out by the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James, describing the task of locating traffickers in open waters as “finding a needle in a haystack.”
Bondi confirmed that 11 individuals had been arrested in connection with the seizure.
Patel also noted the mission’s success stemmed from a coordinated effort involving the Coast Guard, Department of Defense, and DOJ.
Vice Adm. Nathan Moore of the Coast Guard told reporters that since February, the agency has seized over 59 metric tons of narcotics.
