More than 150,000 pounds of cocaine have been seized in the Eastern Pacific Ocean since the launch of Operation Pacific Viper, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) said in a Dec. 9 statement.
Operation Pacific Viper, launched in early August, directs U.S. forces to the Eastern Pacific Region to counter criminal groups and cartels, essentially cutting off drug and human smuggling activities before they reach U.S. shores.
According to the Coast Guard, a dose of 1.2 grams of cocaine is enough to kill a person, with the seized quantity equating to more than 57 million potentially lethal doses.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said: “Operation Pacific Viper has proven to be a crucial weapon in the fight against foreign drug traffickers and cartels in Latin America and has sent a clear message that we will disrupt, dismantle, and destroy their deadly business exploits wherever we find them….