US Coast Guard seizes $220 million worth of cocaine in maritime operations

The U.S. Coast Guard has seized more than 13.5 tonnes of cocaine, valued at over $220 million, during a series of maritime operations conducted off the coasts of Mexico, Central America, and South America.

According to CBS, the seizures took place in August and September as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt international drug trafficking networks.

The operation follows a broader campaign carried out between June 26 and August 18, during which the Coast Guard intercepted 19 vessels in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean. That effort resulted in the confiscation of 28 tonnes of cocaine and 6.3 tonnes of marijuana, with a combined street value of approximately $473 million.

The Coast Guard also released images from the operations, including a photograph of a burning vessel. It remains unclear how the fire broke out or whether there were people on board at the time.

By Vugar Khalilov