MIAMI, FL December 5, 2025: A coordinated federal operation involving the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP AMO), and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) resulted in the seizure of a suspected smuggling vessel carrying an estimated 3,715 pounds of cocaine with an approximate value of 28 million dollars. This information comes directly from the official statement released by USCG. Federal officials noted in the release that this is the largest cocaine seizure conducted by a Coast Guard small-boat station since 1995, marking it as one of the most significant maritime interdictions in recent history.
The operation began when Coast Guard personnel detected a vessel operating east of Government Cut. Crews moved in to make contact and secured the vessel for further inspection at the Miami Seaport. Once the vessel arrived at the port, a CBP K9 team conducted an exterior sweep and alerted to multiple concealed locations. From there, CBP AMO officers carried out a detailed search and uncovered more than 1,000 individually wrapped packages hidden throughout the vessel’s interior spaces. The packages field-tested positive for cocaine, according to the official Coast Guard release.
Three individuals suspected of involvement in the smuggling attempt were taken into custody during the joint operation and transferred to the proper authorities for processing. Additional details regarding the individuals are part of the ongoing federal investigative process, and only the information confirmed in the official release is included here.
Federal officials stated in the release that this interdiction demonstrates the continuing threat posed by maritime narcotics trafficking, especially in high-activity zones near Florida’s coastline. The Florida Straits and surrounding waters remain major transit corridors for transnational criminal organizations seeking to move large quantities of illicit drugs into the United States. Officials highlighted that strong cooperation among agencies like USCG, CBP AMO, and HSI remains critical for disrupting these operations before the narcotics reach distribution networks on land.
The commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Miami Beach emphasized in the official statement that protecting American communities from maritime drug trafficking remains a central mission priority. The officer noted that each agency brought essential capabilities to the table, allowing the operation to unfold rapidly and effectively. Federal authorities added that earlier this year the Coast Guard recorded several significant narcotics interdictions across the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean regions, forming part of an ongoing national strategy to reduce the flow of illicit drugs entering the country.
The investigation continues under standard federal procedures. Only information confirmed by the agencies involved is included in this report, and any further developments will depend on what is shared in future official releases.
The Appalachian Post is an independent West Virginia news outlet dedicated to clean, verified, first-hand reporting. We do not publish rumors. We do not run speculation. Every fact we present must be supported by original documentation, official statements, or direct evidence. When secondary sources are used, we clearly identify them and never treat them as first-hand confirmation. We avoid loaded language, emotional framing, or accusatory wording, and we do not attack individuals, organizations, or other news outlets. Our role is to report only what can be verified through first-hand sources and allow readers to form their own interpretations. If we cannot confirm a claim using original evidence, we state clearly that we reviewed first-hand sources and could not find documentation confirming it. Our commitment is simple: honest reporting, transparent sourcing, and zero speculation.
Sources
• U.S. Coast Guard
• CBP Air and Marine Operations
• Homeland Security Investigations
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