U.S. Coast Guard USCGC Active Medium Endurance Cutter Seizes Nearly 3 Tons of Cocaine.

The U.S. Coast Guard medium endurance cutter USCGC Active has returned to Port Angeles, Washington, after a 60-day deployment to the Eastern Pacific under Operation Pacific Viper. The patrol resulted in the seizure of more than 6,000 pounds (around 3 tons) of cocaine, reinforcing the Coast Guard’s role as a frontline maritime counterdrug force.

According to information released by U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Command in December 2025, the medium endurance cutter USCGC Active (WMEC-618) has completed a high-tempo counterdrug patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and returned to its homeport in Port Angeles, Washington. During the 60-day deployment in support of Operation Pacific Viper, the crew interdicted two suspected smuggling vessels, seizing more than 6,000 pounds (around 3 tons) of cocaine with an estimated street value of $41.3 million, a substantial disruption to maritime trafficking routes commonly used by transnational criminal organizations.
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USCGC Active (WMEC 618) deploys its boarding team to intercept a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on November 28, 2025. The interdiction was part of Operation Pacific Viper, a targeted surge aimed at disrupting transnational criminal networks and maritime narcotics trafficking routes. (Picture source: U.S. Coast Guard)

Medium Endurance Cutters, known by the designation WMEC, represent a critical layer in the U.S. Coast Guard’s offshore enforcement architecture and are specifically optimized for sustained counter-drug operations against transnational criminal organizations. These cutters combine long-range endurance with robust detection, command, and interdiction capabilities, enabling them to operate independently for extended periods in high-risk transit zones. The class is equipped with the Mk 92 Mod 1 fire control system integrated with the SPS-78 surface search radar, providing reliable detection and tracking of small, fast-moving contacts such as go-fast vessels that dominate cartel smuggling tactics in the Eastern Pacific. This sensor suite allows cutters like Active to build surface awareness over wide maritime areas and rapidly cue interception assets.

In contested operating environments, WMECs also rely on electronic warfare and self-protection systems to ensure survivability. The AN/SLQ-32A(V)2 electronic warfare suite provides threat warning and situational awareness, while Mark 36 SRBOC decoy launchers enhance defensive capability against potential hostile targeting. Although primarily law enforcement platforms, these systems enable medium-endurance cutters to operate confidently in regions where criminal organizations may employ increasingly sophisticated methods to evade detection or interfere with interdiction efforts.

The armament of the WMEC class supports both law-enforcement escalation-of-force and limited self-defense roles. USCGC Active is fitted with an OTO Melara Mark 75 76 mm/62 caliber naval gun, offering precision engagement capability against surface targets when required, complemented by two .50 caliber (12.7 mm) machine guns optimized for warning shots and disabling fire during interdiction scenarios. This weapons mix provides commanders with flexible response options while remaining aligned with Coast Guard rules of engagement and maritime law enforcement authorities.

Aviation capability further amplifies the operational reach of medium-endurance cutters. The Active is equipped with a flight deck and hangar capable of supporting HH-65 Dolphin or HH-60J Jayhawk helicopters, significantly extending the range for surveillance, pursuit, and interdiction beyond the cutter’s organic sensors. Rotary-wing aviation assets play a decisive role in detecting suspect vessels, vectoring surface units, and forcing compliance during high-speed chases, thereby serving as a force multiplier in counter-narcotics operations under Operation Pacific Viper.

Operation Pacific Viper itself is structured as a surge operation designed to overwhelm cartel logistics by saturating known trafficking corridors with Coast Guard surface and air assets. By concentrating cutters like Active in the Eastern Pacific, the Coast Guard seeks to disrupt cocaine flows at sea rather than relying solely on land-based or coastal interdiction. This forward posture pushes U.S. border security hundreds of miles offshore, reducing the probability that narcotics shipments ever approach North American coastlines.

During its recent deployment, USCGC Active conducted long-range patrols covering more than 10,000 nautical miles and executed two major interdictions within a 72-hour window, targeting go-fast vessels specifically engineered to evade radar and patrol presence. Operating in coordination with other Coast Guard cutters and surveillance platforms, Active’s pursuit teams intercepted a 30-foot and a 40-foot smuggling craft in international waters, resulting in the seizure of over 3,300 pounds (1,497 kilograms) and 2,400 pounds (1,089 kilograms) of cocaine, respectively. The seized narcotics were later offloaded in San Diego, with suspects transferred to federal authorities for prosecution.

Commissioned in 1966, USCGC Active remains the oldest major cutter operating in the Pacific Area, underscoring the enduring relevance of the WMEC fleet. Nicknamed the “Lil Tough Guy,” the cutter continues to fulfill demanding missions across maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, and resource protection. Its recent deployment highlights how well-maintained legacy platforms, when paired with experienced crews and integrated into joint operational frameworks, can still deliver decisive effects against modern criminal threats.

As drug cartels increasingly rely on maritime routes to move large cocaine shipments toward the United States, the sustained deployment of medium-endurance cutters under operations such as Pacific Viper remains a strategic necessity. The performance of USCGC Active illustrates how the Coast Guard’s combination of sensors, aviation integration, armament, and legal authority enables it to disrupt illicit supply chains far from U.S. shores, reinforcing maritime security and reducing the flow of narcotics into American communities.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.