The U.S. Coast Guard says it has seized over 40,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean over the last month as part of boosted counter-drug operations.

More than a dozen interceptions since Aug. 8 led to the drug seizures as well as the apprehension of 36 suspected drug smugglers, the Coast Guard said in a news release Thursday.

The actions took place through Operation Pacific Viper, which the Coast Guard has described as "a surge in forces to the Eastern Pacific to stop the cartels and criminal organizations - cutting off drugs and human smuggling before it reaches American shores." The Eastern Pacific sees "significant transport" of illicit narcotics from South America, the Coast Guard says.

The federal agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, rele

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