500 kilos of cocaine seized on tanker in Port of Los Angeles

A crude oil tanker on the Port of Los Angeles doubled as a large drug mule, carrying roughly 500 kilos of cocaine price an estimated $6.4 million, in keeping with federal authorities.

In one other main blow to worldwide drug-smuggling operations, a Coast Guard narcotics detection canine alerted brokers to suspected contraband hid on the vessel earlier this month.

Boarding groups later confirmed the invention of roughly 500 kilos of cocaine, the Division of Homeland Safety advised The California Put up — a number of the packages bore “Dior” branding.

“The success of this narcotics seizure is a testomony to the coordinated efforts of the DHS enterprise to dismantle the efforts of drug smugglers below our respective authorities and obligations,” stated Captain Stacey Crecy, Sector Commander at Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Lengthy Seashore.

“By means of stellar coordination, we successfully detained the suspect and eliminated the contraband from the vessel to guard the maritime transportation system and facilitate commerce as shortly as attainable,” he continued.

Following the bust, Crecy ordered the tanker held at an outer anchorage close to the Port of Los Angeles as federal investigators expanded the probe.

HSI arrested one suspect, whereas two extra people have been taken into custody.

The seizure is the newest in an aggressive federal marketing campaign focusing on maritime trafficking networks and so-called “ghost fleet” vessels suspected of shifting embargoed oil and unlawful cargo to bankroll hostile regimes and transnational felony organizations.

Earlier this yr, authorities carried out comparable enforcement operations involving the Motor Tankers Bella I, Sophia, Olina, and Veronica.

Federal officers say the Ports of Los Angeles and Lengthy Seashore stay prime targets for worldwide cartels as a result of the huge transport hub handles roughly 30% of America’s worldwide seaborne cargo.

Drug seizures on the ports happen always, with authorities routinely intercepting large shipments of cocaine, fentanyl and different narcotics.

The Coast Guard’s broader anti-drug marketing campaign within the Japanese Pacific has reached historic ranges, with greater than 510,000 kilos of cocaine seized globally.

Returning cutters docking in Southern California have delivered particular person narcotics offloads starting from 2,500 kilos to over 27,000 kilos at a time.

The Trump administration’s harder border enforcement and expanded maritime interdiction efforts are key elements behind latest declines in narcotics trafficking exercise.

Based on DHS and CBP knowledge cited by officers, migrant apprehensions on the southern border dropped by greater than 90% in comparison with peak Biden-era ranges, permitting border personnel to redirect manpower towards inspecting business cargo and passenger automobiles for medication.

Officers additionally reported a big drop in fentanyl seizures between 2024 and 2026, crediting stricter enforcement insurance policies, elevated navy and Nationwide Guard deployments, and initiatives such because the Halt All Deadly Trafficking of Fentanyl Act.

The administration has moreover highlighted sharp declines in sea-based smuggling makes an attempt, citing aggressive Coast Guard interdictions and focused “boat strikes” disrupting cartel trafficking routes into Southern California.

---

Obtain The California Put up App, comply with us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters