Coast Guard, DEA Defend Strikes After Record Cocaine Haul as Prices and Seizures Rise

The U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday brought ashore nearly a 50,000-pound shipment of cocaine — valued at more than $360 million — at Port Everglades in southern Florida. Adm. Nathan Moore, commander of Coast Guard Atlantic Area, called it the largest single-deployment seizure by one cutter and said the service continues to see strong interdiction results.

Mixed signals on impact of recent strikes

Despite at least 21 U.S. air and missile strikes since September targeting vessels and suspected smuggling infrastructure off South America, Moore said the Coast Guard has not seen a clear change in the overall flow of cocaine. "Most of the drugs you see here on Cutter Stone were seized in September, October and early November. So business is good for us and we are continuing to enjoy success," he said.

Moore added that traffickers have not made major, sustained shifts in routes, shipment pace or product purity. He credited recent increases in seizures to newer cutters such as the Stone, tighter integration with U.S. intelligence, and deployment of autonomous surveillance tools.

DEA: market disruptions are measurable

Drug Enforcement Administration Administrator Terry Cole said the strikes are having a measurable effect on the cocaine market. "You're starting to see the rise in the price of cocaine," Cole said, noting price increases of roughly 30% to 45% per kilogram at early transit points and in destination markets.

"It's now more expensive to recruit boat captains, to purchase engines, and to build larger boats for transportation," Cole added. He attributed those cost increases to "immense pressure" on trafficking networks.

Broader context and response

The strikes have coincided with a broader U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean and heightened diplomatic pressure on Venezuela and President Nicolás Maduro, whom U.S. officials have accused of facilitating illicit trafficking. President Trump said he would not rule out sending American troops to Venezuela, adding, "I don't rule out anything. We just have to take care of Venezuela."

Both Moore and Cole pushed back on criticism that maritime interdictions are ineffective. Moore described the Coast Guard as "a tool in the nation's tool bag" with an outsized impact when applied against long-range, large shipments. Cole emphasized an "all-hands" strategy — military, intelligence and law enforcement — and said that coordination with partner countries continues despite some diplomatic tensions.

Outcomes and outlook

In fiscal year 2025 the Coast Guard intercepted 231,000 kilograms of cocaine, the largest annual haul on record and more than triple the long-term yearly average. Moore said he expects seizure totals to keep rising in the near term. "We don't see any indication that the business will slow down," he said. "I think 2026 looks even better than 2025."

Cole framed the effort as part of a public-safety mission: "The American citizens are sick and tired of Americans dying at the hands of the cartels. We are laser-focused on protecting our citizens and defending our national security."

Details: Authorities report at least 21 strikes on suspected smuggling vessels since September, a nearly 50,000-pound cocaine seizure valued at more than $360 million, reported price increases for cocaine of 30%–45% per kilogram at transit points, and a record 231,000 kg intercepted by the Coast Guard in fiscal 2025.