Homeland Security Investigations in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, is investigating a Colombia-based trafficking organization suspected of distributing thousands of kilograms of cocaine into the United States.[1][2][3] The investigation, called Operation Iron Current, led to the coordinated interdiction and seizure of two go-fast vessels by HSI and its interagency partners, ICE said.[1][4][5][3]

The vessels carried about 3,200 kilograms of marijuana alongside about 3,188 kilograms of cocaine, according to ICE.[1][6][7][8][2][9][10][11][12][4][13][14][5][3][15] The agency put the estimated street value of the seized narcotics at more than $80.5 million, a figure covering the cocaine and marijuana together.[1][6][9][12][13][14][5][3] HSI said it worked with domestic and international partners to share information supporting maritime counternarcotics enforcement.[1][11][3]

HSI New Orleans Special Agent in Charge Matt Wright said transnational criminal organizations exploit maritime routes to move drugs and that HSI would keep working with partners to disrupt such networks and seize illicit narcotics.[1][6] ICE said the investigation remains ongoing.[1][6][5] The agencies did not say where or when the vessels were intercepted or whether anyone was arrested.[16][6][7][8][2][9][10][11][12][4][13][14][15]

SuperTalk Mississippi reported that the drugs were said to have been shipped to the United States by a Colombian cartel.[17] The station said the investigation was ongoing and information was limited.[17]

WLUK, a Nexstar station in Green Bay, Wisconsin, published this as another copy of the same TNND national-desk article already cited from other Nexstar outlets.[12]