DHS Inspector general report highlights challenges in stopping ships from smuggling drugs into US

The Department of Homeland Security Inspector General's office on Monday released a new report highlighting the challenges the United States' Coast Guard faces in stopping non-commercial vessels from smuggling drugs in the U.S.

The final report, which was sent to Acting Coast Guard Commandant Kevin Lunday on Friday, included four recommendations aimed at helping the Coast Guard interdict non-commercial vessels smuggling illicit drugs into the country.

The report found that the Coast Guard did not meet its goal of removing 690 metric tons of cocaine during fiscal years 2021 through 2023, by only interdicting an estimated 421.9 metric tons of cocaine during that period. This likely occurred in part because the Coast Guard did not always have cutters available to perform the counterdrug missions, the report said.

It also found that the service did not accurately report all of its interdictions between fiscal years 2021 and 2023. The report said that 156 of the 271 (58%) of the counterdrug case files did not include the results of the seizures, and 185 of the 271 (68%) files did not contain necessary documentation.

Additionally the report said that the Coast Guard made "limited progress" in transitioning its Digital Evidence Search and Seizure program from a pilot program to its full program, because it did not perform the necessary analysis to determine what is needed for the full program. 

"Without addressing these issues, the Coast Guard may be missing opportunities to stop the illicit flow of drugs coming into the United States," the report said.

The report included recommendations to help resolve the issues, including developing and implementing a drug interdiction contingency plan, updating the Marine Information for Safety and Law Enforcement system, and conducting a needs assessment for the Digital Evidence Search and Seizure program.

The office also recommended the Coast Guard commandant "identify and implement a centralized database to capture, analyze, and report on information related to the Coast Guard’s Digital Evidence Search and Seizure program’s success."

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.