The U.S. Coast Guard captured seven suspected smugglers transporting nearly 13,000 pounds of cocaine in the Pacific over the weekend and subsequently burned the boat until it sank, as part of Operation Pacific Viper.
“After intercepting one drug smuggling vessel, Stone sank the vessel in a live-fire exercise, removing it permanently from cartel use,” reads a Coast Guard Facebook post from Sept. 9.
The Coast Guard added that through Operation Pacific Viper, it is increasing its assets in the Eastern Pacific to disrupt the activities of transnational criminal organizations and prevent illegal drugs from reaching U.S. shores and American citizens.
“This is where defending America begins,” it noted….