Record Amounts of Cocaine Seized So Far…

The U.S. Coast Guard published a short video showing off a moment from a recent drug interdiction by the Cutter Munro, highlighting some impressive marksmanship from an airborne sniper. 

The Coast Guard has been hard at work this year, setting a historic record of drug seizures in FY2025. The video is exciting, as many of the Coast Guard’s interdictions are, because an aerial marksman aboard a hovering helo makes a perfect shot on the boat’s engine block from afar. Online fans probably note the correct and proper use of the Barrett as an “anti-materiel rifle”, too, a different role from its pop culture sniper reputation. It’s a very low-cost solution for the Coast Guard, since it can deliver a .50 cal slug into an engine block of a fleeing ship without collateral damage. 

The Munro recovered more than 20,000 pounds of cocaine on that single interdiction, an amount they note is enough for 7.5 million lethal doses. That’s a pretty big fish, considering their record for FY2025 so far sits at 510,000 pounds so far. On average, they seize almost 170,000 pounds annually, or enough for 193 million (potentially) lethal doses.

Last month, Admiral Kevin Lunday, acting commandant of the Coast Guard, said their top priority is to “achieve complete operational control of the U.S. border and maritime approaches." His comments track with the branches' newfound boldness in 2026. "We own the sea, and this historic amount of cocaine seized shows we are defeating narco-terrorist and cartel operations to protect our communities and keep dangerous drugs off our streets.”

In the end, the chase was relatively mundane for the folks aboard the Munro. But that’s exactly how they like it. “Operation Pacific Viper” sounds exciting, but folks clocking in for a day on the frontlines prefer a nice, quiet Saturday at work. For a snippet of high-seas sniping, check the link below. 

FMI: www.uscg.mil