Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Hawai'i Free Press

Current Articles | Archives

Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Coast Guard Cutter Midgett returns to Hawaii following 79-day counterdrug patrol, $156M worth of cocaine seized
By News Release @ 6:25 PM :: 88 Views :: Drugs

Coast Guard offloads approximately 21,126 pounds of cocaine from Eastern Pacific interdictions in San Diego

Photo By Petty Officer 3rd Class Roberto Nieves | Crew members of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Midgett (WMSL 757) stand at parade rest on the flight deck of the cutter in San Diego, Sept. 25, 2025. The Midgett’s crew prepared to offload drugs interdicted in the Eastern Pacific during counter-narcotic patrols, eliminating 21,126 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $156 million in value. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Roberto A. Nieves Felix)

Coast Guard Cutter Midgett returns to Hawaii following 79-day counterdrug patrol, $156M worth of cocaine seized

from DVIDS, 10.07.2025

HONOLULU – The Coast Guard Cutter Midgett (WMSL 757) crew returned to their Honolulu home port Friday after a 79-day deployment to the Eastern Pacific Ocean in support of the counterdrug mission “Operation Pacific Viper.”

While patrolling international waters off the Pacific coasts of Mexico and Central America, Midgett’s crew apprehended 19 suspected drug smugglers and interdicted four suspected drug smuggling vessels, preventing 21,126 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated value of more than $156.4 million, from reaching U.S. shores.

The drugs were offloaded in San Diego on September 25 by the Midgett crew and multiagency partners. The Midgett deployed to the region under the tasking of Joint Interagency Task Force – South (JIATF-S) in support of the Coast Guard’s Operation Pacific Viper.

During the deployment, Midgett’s crew conducted counterdrug missions in the Coast Guard's Southwest District area of responsibility countering transnational criminal organizations and preventing illegal narcotics from reaching the United States. The trafficking of illegal drugs poses an urgent threat to the American people, and the men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard do everything in their power to interdict drugs before they reach our shores and our citizens.

Detecting and interdicting narco-terrorism on the high seas involves significant interagency and international coordination. Joint Interagency Task Force-South based in Key West conducts the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs. Once interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the U.S. Coast Guard throughout the interdiction and apprehension. Interdictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean are performed by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Coast Guard’s Southwest District, headquartered in Alameda, California.

Midgett’s crew worked alongside other Coast Guard units including law enforcement personnel from Tactical Law Enforcement Team South (TACLET SOUTH), Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) crews, contractors operating V-BAT Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), and Department of War assets. Notably, the ship achieved a significant milestone with HITRON—accomplishing their 1,000th interdiction of suspected drug smuggling vessels.

“This deployment showcased the power of partnerships in combating transnational crime,” said Capt. Brian Whisler, Midgett’s commanding officer. “From HITRON and TACLET SOUTH to the entire JIATF-S team, the Midgett crew worked seamlessly with our partners to achieve significant results. I am deeply impressed by the dedication and skill of every member of this crew, who consistently exceeded expectations during challenging circumstances. We are incredibly proud of our contribution to Operation Pacific Viper and remain steadfast in our commitment to control, secure, and defend our borders and maritime approaches.”

Midgett, commissioned in 2019, is the eighth Legend-class national security cutter and is one of two homeported in Honolulu. The cutter’s primary missions are counter-drug operations and defense readiness.

 

Links

TEXT "follow HawaiiFreePress" to 40404

Register to Vote

2aHawaii

Aloha Pregnancy Care Center

AntiPlanner

Antonio Gramsci Reading List

A Place for Women in Waipio

Ballotpedia Hawaii

Broken Trust

Christian Homeschoolers of Hawaii

Cliff Slater's Second Opinion

DVids Hawaii

FIRE

Fix Oahu!

Frontline: The Fixers

Genetic Literacy Project

Grassroot Institute

Habele.org

Hawaii Aquarium Fish Report

Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society

Hawaii Catholic TV

Hawaii Christian Coalition

Hawaii Cigar Association

Hawaii ConCon Info

Hawaii Debt Clock

Hawaii Defense Foundation

Hawaii Family Forum

Hawaii Farmers and Ranchers United

Hawaii Farmer's Daughter

Hawaii Federation of Republican Women

Hawaii History Blog

Hawaii Jihadi Trial

Hawaii Legal News

Hawaii Legal Short-Term Rental Alliance

Hawaii Matters

Hawaii Military History

Hawaii's Partnership for Appropriate & Compassionate Care

Hawaii Public Charter School Network

Hawaii Rifle Association

Hawaii Shippers Council

Hawaii Together

HiFiCo

Hiram Fong Papers

Homeschool Legal Defense Hawaii

Honolulu Navy League

Honolulu Traffic

House Minority Blog

Imua TMT

Inouye-Kwock, NYT 1992

Inside the Nature Conservancy

Inverse Condemnation

July 4 in Hawaii

Land and Power in Hawaii

Lessons in Firearm Education

Lingle Years

Managed Care Matters -- Hawaii

MentalIllnessPolicy.org

Missile Defense Advocacy

MIS Veterans Hawaii

NAMI Hawaii

Natatorium.org

National Parents Org Hawaii

NFIB Hawaii

NRA-ILA Hawaii

Obookiah

OHA Lies

Opt Out Today

Patients Rights Council Hawaii

Practical Policy Institute of Hawaii

Pritchett Cartoons

Pro-GMO Hawaii

RailRipoff.com

Rental by Owner Awareness Assn

Research Institute for Hawaii USA

Rick Hamada Show

RJ Rummel

School Choice in Hawaii

SenatorFong.com

Talking Tax

Tax Foundation of Hawaii

The Real Hanabusa

Time Out Honolulu

Trustee Akina KWO Columns

Waagey.org

West Maui Taxpayers Association

Whole Life Hawaii