The U.S. Coast Guard’s drug mission, formally known as 

Drug Interdiction, makes it the lead federal agency for stemming the flow of illegal narcotics on the high seas. This core mission involves detecting, monitoring, and stopping the maritime transport of illicit drugs, primarily cocaine and marijuana, before they reach U.S. shores. 

Key Aspects of the Mission

• Lead Agency on the High Seas: The Coast Guard has unique law enforcement authority to board and search vessels in international waters, operating under the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act and a network of bilateral agreements with partner nations.
• Strategy and Location: The primary focus is on the Western Hemisphere Transit Zone (WHTZ), a vast area covering the waters off Central and South America and the Caribbean Sea. The strategy is to interdict large, bulk shipments of drugs at sea, where they are most vulnerable to seizure, thereby preventing them from being broken down into smaller, harder-to-track loads on land.
• Interagency and International Cooperation: The mission is a joint effort. The Department of Defense (DoD) is the lead for detection and monitoring, often utilizing assets like Navy ships and patrol aircraft. The information gathered by the Joint Interagency Task Force – South (JIATF-S) is then used by the Coast Guard, who conducts the actual interdiction, arrests, and seizures. The Coast Guard also works closely with international partners, deploying Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETs) on U.S. Navy and allied vessels.
• Specialized Units and Assets: The Coast Guard uses a layered approach involving cutters, boats, and aircraft. Specialized units include:
  • Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON): Uses armed helicopters and precision marksmen to pursue and stop fast-moving “go-fast” smuggling vessels by disabling their engines.
  • Tactical Law Enforcement Teams (TACLETs):Deployable boarding teams that specialize in high-risk boardings on suspected drug vessels.
• Impact: These operations disrupt transnational criminal organizations and cartels, inflicting significant financial costs and reducing the supply of illicit drugs in the U.S.. The Coast Guard frequently offloads millions of dollars’ worth of seized narcotics, sometimes setting new records for seizures in a single operation.