In a tale that could give even Captain Jack Sparrow a run for his doubloons, the U.S. Coast Guard recently seized and offloaded more than 4,800 pounds of cocaine, valued at a staggering $63 million, off the coast of Puerto Cabello, Venezuela. The high-seas drama unfolded across two interdictions that could easily be confused with a deleted scene from a swashbuckling Hollywood blockbuster.

The first interdiction was relatively uneventful. But the second? It had all the makings of a Jerry Bruckheimer film. A suspicious vessel, perhaps channeling the famed Black Pearl, decided that obeying the Coast Guard’s orders to stop was not in its script. Instead, it upped its speed and changed course, essentially auditioning for the sequel to "Fast & Furious: Sea Drift."

Given the circumstances, the U.S. Coast Guard and their Dutch comrades responded in a manner fitting of law enforcement meets action flick—they opened fire in self-defense and defense of others (NBC, CBS). Hollywood, take notes.

As bullets penetrated the hull, the vessel caught fire and eventually sank. It seems fire-breathing sea monsters aren’t just the product of ancient maritime lore. With the ship descending to Davy Jones’ Locker, three suspected smugglers went overboard. Perhaps hoping for a cameo on a reality survival show, the Coast Guard later suspended the search for these individuals, a decision not taken lightly (NBC, CBS). As Lt. Cmdr. John W. Beal commented, "The suspension of the search was not taken lightly," possibly adding that he’s seen this plot twist before.

The seized cocaine eventually found its way to Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. One can imagine the Port Everglades workers sharing stories about the “treasure” they offloaded that day. The incident, however, lacks the typical post-credits humor—it's under investigation, ensuring that the real villains of this tale might have fewer places to hide (NBC, CBS).

For now, the high-seas adventures involve more Coast Guards and fewer captains with a penchant for rum, though the drama and stakes remain high. In a world filled with both lawful enforcers and lawless marauders, the seas remain a stage where good, evil, and millions of dollars’ worth of narcotics do battle. Stay tuned for the next episode—er, interdiction.