The U.S. Coast Guard and partners seized 745 pounds of cocaine worth $5.6 million off Port Everglades, stopping two smuggling vessels.
U.S. Coast Guard
The U.S. Coast Guard has interdicted two drug-smuggling vessels off Port Everglades carrying 745 pounds of cocaine with a street value of $5.6 million, the agency announced Saturday.
The seizures were carried out by a Coast Guard Station Fort Lauderdale law enforcement boat crew working alongside U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations officers and Homeland Security Investigations agents, the Coast Guard said in a press release.
The first interdiction took place Monday near the Fort Lauderdale sea buoy, where Coast Guard crews and a CBP Office of Field Operations K9 unit stopped a vessel suspected of drug smuggling.
A second vessel was stopped Wednesday about seven miles east of Port Everglades during another Coast Guard interdiction operation.
“The Coast Guard is in the business of saving lives, and every kilogram of these drugs kept off our streets represents lives saved,” said Lt. Justin Dadlani, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station in Fort Lauderdale.
Officials said the operation reflects a broader approach aimed at securing U.S. borders by targeting transnational criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking and human smuggling.
Milena Malaver covers crime and breaking news for the Miami Herald. She was born and raised in Miami-Dade and is a graduate of Florida International University. She joined the Herald shortly after graduating.
Here’s a look at what’s happening at South Florida seaports:
Broward County
View of the Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale in 2022. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, South Florida’s second-busiest cruise port, is having a busy November.
The hub has hit a port record of more than 4.7 million cruise passengers in fiscal year 2025, which began Oct. 1, 2024. While based on preliminary numbers, that’s 15% greater than the 4.1 million in fiscal year 2024, a record at the time.
With a convention center undergoing remodeling and expansion nearby, and the adjacent Omni Fort Lauderdale hotel expected to open by year-end, the port could have a big year. And travel will become easier in the area: An elevated bypass through the port directly connects U.S. 1, State Road 84 and 17th Street to the convention center.
Port Everglades has eight cruise terminals, each of which offers WiFi and lots of seating. Most terminals also use facial recognition.
Three new ships are home-porting at Port Everglades. Each makes its inaugural trip in November. The cruise season goes from October through Sept. 30, 2026. In total, the port will be home to 40 ships from 9 cruise lines and 1 ferry for the season.
An aerial view of the Cunard cruise ship Queen Elizabeth, docked at PortMiami on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025, in Miami. The vessel arrived around 6 a.m. and will be based in Miami for six months, offering voyages to the Caribbean. Pedro Portal pportal@miamiherald.com
PortMiami, the world’s biggest cruise hub, is looking to set another record.
In fiscal year 2024, the seaport saw 8.2 million passengers, a 13% increase from the previous year. The port doesn’t yet have any numbers out for fiscal year 2025, but expects to set another record.
In October, PortMiami welcomed Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth, home-porting in South Florida for the first time. The downtown Miami port also saw the arrival of Virgin Voyages’ new ship Brilliant Lady.
Ships until next spring
Cruisers and visitors explore the restaurants and shops on multiple levels as MSC Cruises officially named its highly-anticipated new flagship, MSC World America, at the line’s new state-of-the-art MSC Miami Cruise Terminal on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at PortMiami. Carl Juste cjuste@miamiherald.com
The first Disney-related character you see upon boarding the Disney Destiny and entering the grand hall is T’Challa, the Black Panther. Black, strong, magnificent in stature, and representative of the hopes and dreams of Black comic book and Marvel fans the world over. the statue speaks to the power of representation. Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
PORT EVERGLADES, FL – The first Disney-related character you see upon boarding the Disney Destiny and entering the grand hall of the latest addition to the global entertainment company’s fleet of cruise ships, is Black, strong, magnificent in stature, and representative of the hopes and dreams of Black comic book and Marvel fans the world over.
T’Challa, the Black Panther, King of Wakanda. The statue looms large over any other character depictions on the ship. He is standing with his shoulders back, his fist balled up, ready for battle if necessary. At his feet is a panther in mid-stride, equally ready to pounce if that’s what the situation calls for. The statue is beautiful. It is also overwhelmingly brilliant.
The physical image of the Black Panther as the premier representative on a ship which features heroes and villains says so much more than any words can best describe. Representation matters, and for the children of all races and adults who board the Disney Destiny going forward, the Black Panther will be the representation that they see.
Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
There are other Disney heroes and villains represented on Destiny as well. Portraits of the Guardians of the Galaxy, Mulan, Hercules, Woody and Buzz Lightyear, Frozone, can be found through the ship’s many hallways and stairways. All kinds of representations of heroes live on this ship.
On Deck 3, however, there is a set of small paintings that further set the tone of representation. There are six in total, and though colorful, their blackness shines through the brightest of all. The paintings are of African warrior tribes. Some of the warriors carry spears and wear masks. Others have people carrying small children in their arms. All are families bonding generations to one another.
Photo by Donnell Suggs/The Atlanta Voice
Near the concierge desk is another depiction of the Black Panther. He can be seen several times on the ship, including on the way to the restaurant, World of Marvel. In this landscape painting, the Black Panther stands atop a boulder; to his left and right are the Dora Milaje, the all-female royal corps of warriors. This portrait can be taken directly from the screens of the Black Panther films and pages of the modern comic books. It’s beautiful.
The Disney Destiny will provide guests with a top-notch cruise experience, and the quality service that Disney provides at its parks, hotel properties, and on cruise ships.
That said, destiny can also be described as destiny fulfilled. The level of representation on this ship speaks louder than any other I have witnessed in five years of covering the brand. It’s loud, proud, and at least in this instance, very Black and beautiful.
