San Diego’s working waterfront turned into a drug war stage yesterday as the U.S. Coast Guard and federal partners stacked pallet after pallet of seized cocaine at the 10th Avenue Marine Terminal. In all, crews offloaded roughly 27,551 pounds, about 13 tons, of suspected cocaine that officials estimate would have been worth about $203 million on the street. The haul came from three separate interdictions in international waters and ended with 12 people under arrest facing federal drug charges.
What Was Seized And Where
Officials said the pallets brought ashore in San Diego were tied to multiple interdictions carried out by Coast Guard cutters. According to CBS 8, the seized cocaine totaled about 27,551 pounds and carried an estimated street value of roughly $203 million.
Part Of A Wider Pacific Surge
Federal officials said the interdictions were part of an intensified Coast Guard counterdrug posture in the Eastern Pacific known as Operation Pacific Viper. The Coast Guard has reported multiple large offloads this year as cutters and aviation units surge patrols in key transit zones, highlighting how maritime interdiction has become a central front in efforts to disrupt cartel shipments. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, coordinated operations earlier in 2025 resulted in offloads worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
How The Interdictions Unfolded
Officials said the cocaine offloaded in San Diego came from three suspected smuggling vessels interdicted in international waters off Central and South America. Crews from cutters including the Munro and Active carried out two of the boardings. CBS 8 reports that Rear Adm. Jeffrey Novak described tactics used to force noncompliant narco boats to stop, including warning shots and limited disabling fire aimed at engines. He also noted that smugglers are increasingly relying on high speed panga boats with multiple engines capable of very high speeds even while loaded with contraband. CBS 8 reported that 12 people were taken into custody in connection with the interdictions and now face federal charges.
What Happens Next
After offloads like this one, the Coast Guard turns evidence and detainees over to federal partners for criminal investigation and prosecution. That interagency process typically involves the DEA, Homeland Security Investigations and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. The Coast Guard’s public affairs materials and prior offload notices describe the same multiagency handoff when large seizures are brought ashore for processing and destruction, with federal prosecutors handling criminal cases after evidence collection and chain of custody procedures are complete. For context, the U.S. Coast Guard has previously highlighted similar large offloads at San Diego’s 10th Avenue Marine Terminal earlier in 2025, underscoring the city’s ongoing role as a key offload site.
