A U.S. Coast Guard cutter and its crew returned to California on Monday following a 119-day deployment that culminated in the largest maritime drug seizure in nearly two decades.
According to Fox News, over the course of the mission, the cutter Munro intercepted more than 22,000 pounds of cocaine in operations spanning the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
The mission began in November 2025, when the Munro departed Alameda, California, for training exercises off San Diego before heading into the Pacific for counternarcotics patrols under Operation Pacific Viper.
The vessel was later diverted to the Atlantic in support of Operation Southern Spear, a Trump administration initiative aimed at dismantling transnational criminal networks.
“The service, our nation, and our families can be extremely proud of Munro,” said Capt. Jim O’Mara, the ship’s commanding officer. “This crew rose to every new challenge thrown at them with professionalism and persistence, and they achieved historic results. This was a one-of-a-kind deployment for us, but it is also just one part of a much broader campaign and U.S. national strategy.”
During the mission, the Munro tracked the U.S.-sanctioned Motor Tanker Bella 1 across the Caribbean and Atlantic, covering 4,900 miles over 18 days.
The vessel, deemed stateless and under U.S. jurisdiction, was boarded by the Munro’s crew, seizing control of the 333-meter oil carrier.
In the Pacific, the crew intercepted a suspected smuggling vessel along a known trafficking route.
Using two cutter pursuit boats and helicopter support, the Munro successfully disabled the vessel. Six suspected smugglers were detained, and 22,052 pounds of cocaine were confiscated—a milestone not seen in 18 years.
“We could not have done this without support from partners, allies, and our families,” O’Mara said. “Our families had to adapt to each new twist, just like all military families do across the Armed Forces. It is tough on them. But when they hold strong at home that keeps us motivated and focused on our mission.”
The operation comes amid a surge in U.S. strikes against narco-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific, with Sunday marking the 45th such strike since September 2025, including a lethal strike on a vessel carrying suspected traffickers.
