Since August, the U.S. Coast Guard has seized over 45 tons of cocaine —about 100,000 pounds— in the Pacific through 34 interdictions, resulting in 86 arrests, all without a single casualty. The contrast with the Caribbean is stark: there, the destruction of seven vessels and more than 30 deaths have been reported, but not a kilo of drugs confiscated nor a single arrest processed. Two opposing models are evident: one based on cooperation and verifiable results, another on lethal force and opacity.
Author: LaTabla/Data Journalism Platform 19 OCT 2025
The comparison between two models of fighting drug trafficking becomes clearer with the new results from the U.S. Coast Guard. Between the end of June and August, precise interdictions were documented in the Caribbean with 34.5 tons of drugs reported, alongside coordinated operations with allied countries.
Since August, and according to the bulletin from October 14, the offensive in the Pacific —under the so-called Operation Pacific Viper— has elevated results: over 100,000 pounds seized, a figure that exceeds 45 tons, with 34 interdictions and 86 alleged drug traffickers arrested.
Two Operational Models
– Technical and cooperative model: planned operations, with international support, use of non-lethal forces, photographic documentation, and precise assessment of each seizure. In the Pacific, this model yielded measurable results: tens of tons of cocaine removed from circulation, arrests, and no reported human casualties.
– Model of force and opacity: actions reported without verifiable evidence, with unauthenticated videos and contradictory accusations that breed distrust. In the Caribbean, according to complaints and public reports, the use of lethal force and destruction of vessels is linked to an adverse human toll and no seizures or processed arrests in relation to these episodes.
Results and Evaluation
The results in the Pacific demonstrate operational efficiency and quantifiable performance: over 45 tons —a conservative estimate based on the release— seized since August, 86 apprehensions, and 34 confirmed interdictions. These figures allow for a simple indicator: the model prioritizing coordination, intelligence, and legal controls generates significant seizures and reduces the use of lethal force at sea.
In contrast, operations in the Caribbean during the same period present a different pattern: destruction of at least seven vessels and the death of over 30 people according to public reports, with no results showing drug seizures or judicial processing of alleged traffickers.
This disparity is not just numerical; it’s about operational and political legitimacy: verifiable actions facilitate international cooperation and recognition; opaque actions fuel suspicions, regional reactions, and contradictory narratives.