Drug interdiction is a mission of the USCG and falls within the DHS. With the increasing illegal smuggling of narcotics, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) is facing many new challenges. The maritime route has been an increasing route for drug smuggling especially in the “transit zone” which is between south America and the USCG  mission is to reduce the supply of drugs from the source by denying smugglers the use of air and maritime routes in the Transit Zone, a six million square mile area, including the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Pacific. On an average day the USCG seizes 874 pounds of cocaine and 214 pounds of marijuana (2016 presidential transition)