MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — A massive drug seizure just off the South Florida coastline has set a new benchmark for the region, with federal officials confirming it is the largest single-station haul recorded in 30 years. The interception took place last Tuesday when U.S. Coast Guard crews stopped a 65-foot sport fisher heading toward the Miami Beach shoreline.
Coast Guard Spots Suspicious Vessel During Routine Patrol
The discovery began around 11 a.m. as a Coast Guard response boat was completing a standard maritime patrol. Crews noticed the vessel traveling west toward the coast only two miles from Government Cut, a busy passageway near Miami Beach.
Once officers boarded the boat for inspection, they uncovered multiple hidden compartments lining the bulkhead. Inside those areas, investigators found more than 3,700 pounds of cocaine, a quantity officials valued at nearly $28 million.
Authorities stated this marks the largest drug bust conducted by a single Coast Guard station in three decades, underscoring the scale of the maritime trafficking operations that continue to target U.S. waters.
Officials Call It a Milestone in Border Enforcement
During a briefing, Capt. Frank Florio of the U.S. Coast Guard emphasized the significance of the operation, noting that it reflects the agency’s persistent effort to protect U.S. borders from illicit maritime activity…