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The U.S. Coast Guard seizes an average of 167,000 pounds (approx. 75,750 kg) of cocaine annually, though recent years have seen historic, record-breaking surges well above this baseline. [1, 2, 3]

Annual Seizure Trends

Maritime drug interdiction totals fluctuate depending on ongoing deployments, cartels’ changing transit routes, and technology updates like drone surveillance. [1, 2]

• The Baseline Average: Prior to recent operational spikes, the historical annual benchmark sat at 167,000 pounds. [1, 2]
• Fiscal Year 2025 Spike: The Coast Guard shattered all previous service records by seizing nearly 510,000 pounds (over 230,000 kg) of cocaine. This historic haul was valued at over $3.8 billion and tripled their typical yearly average. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Ongoing 2026 Operations: Large-scale targeted initiatives continue to net massive quantities. For instance, the Coast Guard’s Operation Pacific Viper alone surpassed 225,000 pounds of seized cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. [1]

Where the Drugs are Seized

The vast majority of these maritime interdictions occur on the high seas rather than near coastlines. According to data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, roughly 80 percent of all U.S.-bound illicit drugs are intercepted in international waters. The U.S. Coast Guard primarily focuses its counter-narcotics patrols within known geographic drug transit zones, specifically the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. [1, 2, 3]