FBI’s High-Stakes Sting Uncovers Half a Billion in Contraband at Port

Person wearing FBI jacket with yellow lettering

The FBI seized over 48,400 pounds of narcotics valued at $509 million in a massive drug interdiction operation at Port Everglades, Florida, delivering a significant blow to Mexican drug cartels while demonstrating the Trump administration’s aggressive stance on combating drug trafficking.

Quick Takes

A joint operation led to the seizure of nearly 45,000 pounds of cocaine and 3,800 pounds of marijuana worth over half a billion dollars at Port Everglades
The operation involved multiple federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, Department of Defense, Coast Guard, and Homeland Security Investigations
The drugs were seized in 13 interdictions in the eastern Pacific Ocean by Coast Guard cutters James and Mohawk
FBI Director Kash Patel classified narco traffickers as foreign terrorist organizations under the Trump administration
This marked the Coast Guard’s third major drug offload in South Florida in 2025

Major Drug Bust Details

FBI Director Kash Patel announced the successful narcotics seizure at Port Everglades on April 9, revealing that 48,400 pounds of illegal drugs with a street value of $509 million had been confiscated. The operation, carried out in the eastern Pacific Ocean, resulted in 13 separate interdictions conducted by the crews of U.S. Coast Guard cutters James and Mohawk. The seizure consisted of approximately 45,000 pounds of pure, uncut cocaine and 3,800 pounds of marijuana, demonstrating the scale of drug trafficking operations being conducted by Mexican cartels.

The drugs were seized off the coasts of Peru, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands using a sophisticated combination of drones, aircraft, and ships. This coordinated effort showcases the “whole of government” approach implemented by the Trump administration to combat drug trafficking more aggressively than in previous years. The interdiction operation involved cooperation between multiple federal agencies including the FBI, DEA, Department of Defense, Coast Guard, and Homeland Security Investigations, highlighting the importance of interagency collaboration in the fight against narcotics.

Administration’s Strong Stance Against Cartels

Attorney General Pam Bondi emphasized the significance of the seizure during the announcement, attributing the shipments to major Mexican drug organizations. “This is a textbook example of the Justice Department supporting the fight against violent crime. These drugs are worth over half a billion dollars. Almost 45,000 pounds of cocaine, pure cocaine, uncut, and 3,800 pounds of marijuana. Congratulations again to the Coast Guard, you have done admirable work,” said Bondi.

“What they did saved countless American lives, countless lives. This cocaine would have been distributed throughout our country, perhaps throughout the world.” – AG Pam Bondi

FBI Director Patel noted that the Trump administration has classified narco traffickers as foreign terrorist organizations, signaling a harder line against drug cartels than previous administrations. The Department of Justice has prioritized drug mitigation efforts, focusing not only on removing drugs from American streets but also on incarcerating cartel members who facilitate the drug trade. This approach aims to disrupt the entire supply chain of illegal narcotics entering the United States.

National Impact of Drug Trafficking

The operation comes amid a growing drug crisis in the United States. In 2023 alone, over 100,000 drug overdose deaths occurred across the country, with fentanyl and synthetic opioids responsible for nearly 70% of these fatalities. Fentanyl overdose has become the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-45, underscoring the urgent need for continued and enhanced drug enforcement efforts. The House of Representatives recently passed the HALT Fentanyl Act with bipartisan support to address this ongoing crisis.

“There is no lethal force on planet Earth that is responsible for an overdose death of an American citizen every seven minutes more so than these foreign terrorist organizations.” – FBI Director Patel

Vice Admiral Nathan Moore, who was also present at the offload, highlighted the human impact of the seizure, equating it to saving approximately 154 lives from cocaine-related overdose deaths. This event marks the Coast Guard’s third major drug offload in South Florida this year, following a previous operation on March 20 that netted nearly 46,000 pounds of drugs worth over $517.5 million. The recent announcement also coincided with six drug-related arrests in New York after a lengthy investigation into drug trafficking networks.