Massive $500M Cartel Cocaine Bust In U.S.: 45,000 Pounds Seized In Coast Guard Sting

In one of the largest drug seizures in recent history, U.S. federal authorities have confiscated over 45,000 pounds of cocaine—valued at more than $500 million—in a sweeping anti-narcotics operation off the coast of Florida.

The announcement was made Wednesday at Port Everglades, where U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel hailed the bust as a major victory in the ongoing war against transnational drug cartels

“This is a textbook example of the Justice Department supporting the fight against violent crime,” Bondi said. “Thousands of lives were saved today.”

Alongside the massive cocaine haul, authorities also seized 3,800 pounds of marijuana, both traced to two of the most dangerous drug syndicates in the world—the CJNG (Jalisco New Generation Cartel) and the infamous Sinaloa Cartel.

The 11-day sting operation was conducted with military precision, deploying drones, aircraft, and ships to intercept the traffickers before the drugs could hit the streets.

Eleven suspects have been arrested in connection with the seizure, and more arrests are expected as investigations continue.

FBI Director Patel declared the operation a strike at the heart of cartel infrastructure.

“We’re dismantling the ‘next-man-up’ model that’s allowed these criminal empires to thrive for generations,” Patel said. “We’re not just stopping the drugs—we’re locking up everyone behind them.”

The operation reflects a whole-of-government approach, combining the resources of the Coast Guard, FBI, DEA, and Department of Justice to confront what officials describe as an evolving and persistent threat from Mexican cartels.

Patel added, “This is what happens when every U.S. resource is brought to bear. We will get these drugs off the streets—and the criminals behind bars.”