Coast Guard's Anti-Drug Efforts Hampered by Cutter Shortage and Data Inaccuracy

The Coast Guard's Struggle to Stop Drug Smuggling

A new report by the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General reveals that the U.S. Coast Guard faced significant challenges in consistently stopping drug smugglers during the Biden administration.

The audit, which examined the Coast Guard's efforts from 2021 to 2023, found that the agency lacked sufficient cutter vessels to effectively conduct its anti-drug mission. This resulted in a combined total of 2,058 days where cutters were unavailable, often due to reassignment to migrant interdiction, unscheduled maintenance, or COVID-19 protocols.

The report also highlights the Coast Guard's failure to accurately record interdictions, with missing seizure results and required documentation in a significant portion of case files. This lack of data accuracy hinders the agency's ability to assess its effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

The report concludes that without addressing these issues, the Coast Guard risks missing opportunities to meet its target goals of removing cocaine and reducing the illicit flow of drugs into the country. It recommends that the Coast Guard develop a drug interdiction contingency plan to prioritize cutter availability and update its systems to ensure data accuracy.

The Coast Guard agreed with most of the recommendations, except for the contingency plan, which it deemed redundant and ineffective. However, the agency remains committed to strengthening its efforts to combat drug smuggling by disrupting the flow of cocaine and other illegal drugs in the maritime environment.