The US Coast Guard’s cutter Hamilton off-loaded a record-setting 34 tonnes of cocaine at Port Everglades, a haul the service valued at about $470 million and described as the largest single cocaine offload on record.
The drugs stemmed from 19 interdictions conducted in waters off Aruba, Haiti, Venezuela, Curacao, Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Bonaire, and other high-seas locations in the Eastern Pacific, from Ecuador to Mexico. Hamilton led the way with 11 interdictions and the seizure of roughly 47,000 pounds of cocaine, while six ships from the Coast Guard, the US Navy, and the Royal Netherlands Navy participated in the operation.
Captain John B. McWhite, Hamilton’s commanding officer, credited his crew and their partners for their hard work over recent months in safeguarding the American public from illicit narcotics and highlighted the sacrifices made by deployed service members and their families.
A large portion of cocaine moving through the Caribbean heads toward Europe, not the United States. European buyers account for about one-fifth of global cocaine demand, and historically pay a premium for the drug. The Coast Guard noted the shipment’s U.S. wholesale value at roughly $14,000 per kilogram, a fraction of Europe’s recent average of about $35,000 per kilogram. European street and wholesale prices have eased since early 2025 due to abundant supply and cartel price competition.
The seizures underscore the global nature of the narcotics trade and the extensive international cooperation involved in tackling it, with interdictions spanning multiple nations and coordinating vessels. The Hamilton case also aligns with other recent cross-border enforcement efforts that highlight how law enforcement networks work together to disrupt trafficking channels and reduce the flow of illicit drugs to communities worldwide.
In recent weeks, European authorities have announced major cocaine seizures as well, including a 13-metric-ton haul uncovered in Algeciras, Spain, within a banana shipment from Ecuador. That operation, supported by tip-offs from Ecuadorian authorities, led to arrests and emphasized the ongoing role of international cooperation in combating the global drug trade and protecting public safety.
Overall, the latest US Coast Guard interception demonstrates the scale and reach of transnational drug networks and the continued determination of authorities to disrupt them, offering a hopeful sign that continued collaboration and vigilant policing can reduce the reach and impact of illicit narcotics.
If you’d like, I can add a brief reader-focused summary at the end or include a quick explainer on how such offloads are tracked and valued for the public.
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