The crew of a U.S. Coast Guard ship simultaneously intercepted three boats carrying around 6,085 pounds of cocaine worth nearly $45.8m and stopping what the agency called a “triple threat,” officials said Thursday.
The crew of the Tahoma, a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, made the interdictions on May 8 approximately 90 miles off Cartagena, Colombia, the Coast Guard said in a news release.
The seizure represents 2.3 million potentially lethal doses of cocaine that will not reach American streets.
The Coast Guard crew launched their two small boats and their deployed Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron aircrew stopping all three vessels.
One vessel was non-compliant and required aerial use of force tactics, including precision sniper fire directed at the engines, to compel the vessel to stop resulting in the suspected smugglers on the vessel jumping overboard, the Coast Guard said.
The aircrew released multiple personal flotation devices, and the people were rescued with no reported injuries, according to an official statement by the Coast Guard. The other two vessels stopped when directed by Coast Guard crews.
Photos shared by the Coast Guard showed the three boats set ablaze.
“Interdicting three vessels simultaneously is a testament to the unwavering professionalism, precision, and dedication of our crews,” said Cmdr. Nolan Cuevas, Tahoma’s commanding officer. “This interdiction prevented a significant number of illegal narcotics from reaching America’s shores, and their teamwork underscores the Coast Guard’s mission to protect our nation and saving lives.”
About 80% of narcotics seized while being transported to the United States are found at sea, the Coast Guard said.
The Coast Guard seized over 511,000 pounds of cocaine in 2025.
