Here’s what happens when the Coast Guard makes a drug bust

Most troops and vets know very little about what the Coast Guard actually does. They're often seen as either the "Navy National Guard" or as a bunch of puddle pirates trying to pretend like they're one of the cool, DoD kids.

Yeah, sure; we'll hear their name get brought up whenever a hurricane hits or they'll be cursed at when they catch someone speeding on a private lake, but the truth is that they've more than earned their right to be a branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

When they aren't out helping idiotic boaters, they're dropping narco-terrorists just like their grunt brothers.

When it kicks off, Coasties stay busy and can probably expect six or so busts in a week after that long-ass wait.

(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Melissa Leake)

It all begins with actionable intelligence. Despite what you might think about gangs not snitching on each other to save their own hides — they absolutely do. Apparently, it doesn't even take that much to get them to talk. A threat of extradition and being sent back to their home country (where they face grave, domestic threats) is usually enough to get them singing like a canary.

So, the Coast Guard goes out to the expected route of traffickers in their Cutters and they wait... and wait... and wait...

This process could take days, weeks, or even months. If it turns out that the collected information is indeed legit and they find the smugglers, then the fun begins.

First is the show of force and an appeal to try and get them to surrender peacefully. There's literally no escape when the Coast Guard has you surrounded with much faster vessels and helicopters flying overhead. The ones who value their well-being will give themselves up.

If they don't, warning shots will strafe the waters in front of the bow. If they still don't get the message, snipers from inside the helicopters will disable the engines — that's right: The Coast Guard has highly trained snipers who can hit speedboats from helicopters with surgical precision.

They should get the hint by now, but just in case they don't, the Coast Guardsmen then board their vessel and detain the smugglers while remaining very weary of any potential threats that may appear. For a look at what that's like, in a safe-for-television manner, check out the video below:

Ever wonder what half a billion dollars looks like? This was from just three busts.

(U.S. Coast Guard Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Mariana O'Leary)

The traffickers will go into custody and may be sent back to their host nation for trial (or execution, depending on the country). Then, the drugs are incinerated or destroyed by other means.

We're not talking small amounts either. We're talking about cartel-level quantities. Each bust account for tons of narcotics that will never make it to the streets. When they're set ablaze, that's millions that will never make it back to the cartels. Between 2010 and 2015, the U.S. Coast Guard took out 500 tons of cocaine — billion in street value.

The war on drugs is a constant battle, but busts like these make significant dents.