US Coast Guard seizes 5 tons of narcotics worth over $64.5 million in Caribbean Sea bust
(ABC NEWS) — The U.S. Coast Guard seized over five tons of narcotics, including 8,700 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $64.5 million, in the Caribbean Sea, officials said.
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Diligence, a 210-foot vessel whose primary missions are counter-drug and alien interdiction operations, enforcement of federal fishery laws and search and rescue operations, seized the contraband over two major interdictions in August and September in international waters of the Caribbean Sea, according to a statement from the U.S. Coast Guard on Wednesday.
On Aug. 7, Diligence’s crew detected and boarded a suspicious vessel moving very quickly approximately 136 miles southwest of Negril, Jamaica.
“Diligence’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing 1,500 pounds of marijuana. The contraband was transferred to and offloaded by Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753), as part of the largest quantity of drugs offloaded in Coast Guard history, in Port Everglades, on Aug. 25,” the USCG said.
Almost one month later, on Sep. 6, a maritime patrol craft spotted another suspicious fast-moving vessel approximately 240 miles north of Panama.
“Diligence’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 8,700 pounds of cocaine,” the USCG said. “The cocaine was offloaded by Diligence’s crew and transferred to case agents in St. Petersburg, Monday.”
“I am remarkably proud of the crew and appreciative of the efforts of JIATF-S and Coast Guard District Southeast,” said Cmdr. Colin McKee, commanding officer Diligence. “This joint effort helped us prevent more than four tons of illegal drugs from entering the United States. While this offload marks another milestone in our efforts to counter narco-terrorism, the Coast Guard remains relentless in our operations to control, secure, and defend U.S. borders and maritime approaches.”
Coast Guard officials said that they continue increased operations “to interdict, seize and disrupt transshipments of cocaine and other bulk illicit drugs by sea.”
“These drugs fuel and enable foreign terrorist organizations and transnational criminal organizations to produce and traffic illegal fentanyl, threatening the United States,” USCG said. “Detecting and interdicting narco-terrorism on the high seas involves significant interagency and international coordination because 80% of U.S.-bound drugs are interdicted on the high seas.”
Interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of Coast Guard District Southeast, headquartered in Miami, officials said.
