Last week the US Coast Guard with the help of Costa Rican authorities the US  performed a well-coordinated boarding and search of the vessel the Amanda M (registered to a Costa Rican company), and seized $29 million worth of cocaine. The drugs were discovered in hidden compartments aboard the ship, and four Costa Rican nationals were taken into custody. The vessel was identified by a Coast Guard helicopter while sailing in international waters near Costa Rica, and forces from both Costa Rica and USA boarded the ship to execute a nearly seamless drug bust.

US President Donald J. Trump immediately posted on Twitter, boasting of the success of the mission. He said, “My Administration is committed to protecting the Homeland from the scourge of narco-terrorists and traffickers seeking to destabilize the US and our Hemisphere.” He added, “Our military deployments in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific will endure until these threats are neutralized!!”

On April 1st, the US Southern Command stepped up their counter-narcotics activities in the Western Hemisphere, with the goal of disrupting the flow of drugs bound for the United States. They were joined by the Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, DEA, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Trump Administration has continued to devote more resources in recent weeks to combat international drug-trafficking, an industry seemingly flourishing despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Experts have predicted that COVID-19 will significantly cut down on the number of cocaine users, as people lose their jobs, and no longer have money to spend on recreational drug use. This happened during the economic crash of 2008. Heroin will probably be less affected, as heroin addiction seems to be more difficult to overcome, meaning users will continue to find ways to purchase the drug. It is anticipated that fewer customers for cocaine will cause more squabbles and turf battles among Costa Rican and other drug cartels.

In the meantime, drug interdiction officers remain very proud of both the February cocaine seizure of 5.5 tons making it the largest bust in Costa Rican history , and the most recent seizure of 1,700 pounds of cocaine. “This interdiction is a great example of what we can accomplish with strong international partners,” said Rear Admiral Peter Gautier, who led the operation on the Amanda M, partnered by Costa Rican drug enforcement officials.

The cocaine haul was removed by the US Coast Guard cutter Mohawk, and the four accused drug smugglers were turned over to Costa Rican authorities to be detained and booked.

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