This wild-looking drone hunting drug runners at night helped the US Coast Guard seize a record-breaking cocaine haul

"The crew of the Stone, a large Legends-class National Security cutter, offloaded over 49,000 pounds of cocaine worth more than $362 million at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Wednesday. It was a landmark offload marking the most cocaine seized by a single Coast Guard cutter during a deployment. The majority of the cocaine taken during this deployment came from Colombia, officials said."

"The deployment, which began in August, was part of the Coast Guard-led Operation Pacific Viper targeting drug-running operations in the eastern Pacific. Coast Guard officials say the service is accelerating its counter-narcotics missions, resulting in record numbers of drug interdictions. In fiscal year 2025 alone, the Coast Guard seized almost 510,000 pounds of cocaine, the most in its history. The Stone's recent deployment in the Pacific included 15 interdictions, three of which occurred on the same night."

The cutter Stone completed a deployment in the eastern Pacific and offloaded more than 49,000 pounds of cocaine valued at over $362 million at Port Everglades. The deployment included 15 interdictions, with three occurring on a single night. A unique tail-sitter drone capable of vertical takeoff and landing provided aerial reconnaissance to locate suspected smuggling vessels. The operation formed part of Operation Pacific Viper targeting drug-running activity in the region. The majority of seized cocaine originated from Colombia. Coast Guard counter-narcotics efforts reached nearly 510,000 pounds seized in fiscal year 2025, a record high.

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