Coast Guard recovers 47 bales of suspected marijuana worth $2.4M after intercepting go-fast vessel

Coast Guard Seizes More Than 2,000 Pounds of Marijuana in Recent West‑Atlantic Operation

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter and its joint‑task‑force partners intercepted a fast‑moving vessel suspected of smuggling drugs, recovering a haul of over 2,000 pounds of marijuana valued at more than $2.4 million. The operation also resulted in the detainment of four individuals connected to the cargo.

The vessel, described by the Coast Guard as a “go‑fast,” was spotted during a routine patrol by the cutter Escanaba. The crew launched a small boat to investigate and found the suspect craft had come to a stop without incident. Following the boat’s arrival, Coast Guard teams discovered a “bale field” – a series of stacked bales – along the vessel’s previous course. Inside the bales were 47 sacks of marijuana, weighing 2,082 pounds in total.

Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF‑S), which coordinates maritime drug interdiction efforts in the region, confirmed the seizure and noted that four persons were taken into custody during the operation. The Coast Guard thanked the Escanaba and the Joint Rescue Coordination Center in Haiti for their timely support, search assistance, and coordination throughout the mission.

“This mission required vigilance, professionalism, and seamless coordination from detection and pursuit to evidence recovery and search‑and‑rescue support,” JIATF‑S said in a statement. The agency highlighted the importance of the operation as part of the broader effort to disrupt narcotics trafficking networks across the Western Hemisphere.

The seizure comes amid a heightened U.S. military focus on curbing the flow of illicit drugs into the United States. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) praised the bust as evidence of the United States’ resolve to halt the movement of dangerous drugs. The command also reported two earlier operations in the Eastern Pacific in which U.S. forces intercepted and sank vessels linked to the violent narco‑terrorist group Los Choneros.

While JIATF‑S did not disclose the exact location of the interdiction, the operation fits into a larger campaign that has targeted smuggling vessels throughout the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. The Coast Guard recently made headlines again when it seized more than 7,000 pounds of cocaine—worth approximately $54 million—near Puerto Rico, detaining five crew members on that occasion.

The drug bust underscores the continuing threat posed by maritime narcotics trafficking and the U.S. Coast Guard’s role in safeguarding the nation’s shores. The seized marijuana, which represents a significant financial loss for the illicit market, will be handled through standard legal and forensic procedures as authorities investigate the individuals involved and pursue any related criminal cases.