U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the seizure of approximately $510 million worth of illegal narcotics from vessels bound for the United States, emphasizing the administration’s focus on disrupting major drug trafficking networks.
Bondi traveled to Florida to highlight the efforts of U.S. Coast Guard crews in intercepting the drugs and to underscore the Trump administration’s commitment to combating drug traffickers contributing to the nation’s addiction crisis.
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Standing in front of a Coast Guard ship and displays of the seized drugs at a south Florida port, Bondi’s appearance reinforced the Trump administration’s strategy to reshape the Justice Department’s priorities to align with President Trump’s focus on violent crime, illegal immigration, and cartels.
According to Bondi, the seizures, which involved the use of ships, aircraft, and drones, occurred off the coasts of Peru, Ecuador, and the Galapagos Islands. These operations have led to sealed indictments against 11 individuals.
Bondi stated that the investigation has linked the drug shipments to two prominent cartels: the Jalisco New Generation Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel. She described the seizures as a “major blow” to the cartels’ financial operations.
“What they did saved countless American lives,” Bondi said, referring to the Coast Guard crews involved in the interceptions. “This cocaine would have been distributed throughout our country and perhaps throughout our world.”
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The Trump administration designated the Sinaloa Cartel, Mexico’s oldest criminal group involved in drug, weapon, and human trafficking, and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, along with eight other Latin American crime organizations, as “foreign terrorist organizations” in February, increasing pressure on these groups and those who assist them.
FBI Director Kash Patel, who accompanied Bondi in Florida, echoed this sentiment: “This administration has labeled them foreign terrorist organizations because that’s what they are.”
“I could not be prouder of the James crew and the teams who embarked with us to stand the watch over the holidays to keep our border secure and keep Americans safe,” said Capt. Thomas Rodzewicz, commanding officer of James. “Over a remarkable 72-hour period, our crews interdicted six go-fast vessels and one low-profile vessel across the vast ocean, culminating in the extraordinary seizure of over 24,000 pounds of cocaine and 15 suspected narco-traffickers. We delivered a substantial blow to narco-terrorism organizations, sending those attempting to bring drugs to our border to face federal prosecution, halting the profits criminals use to fuel the fentanyl trade, and most importantly, preventing deadly contraband from reaching American communities and families.”
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