(DailyAnswer.org) – The U.S. Coast Guard in San Diego, California has announced that it offloaded almost 34,000 pounds of seized cocaine that was worth approximately $468 million.
The illegal drugs were confiscated when eight separate vessels suspected of smuggling drugs were intercepted by the Coast Guard Cutter Munro off the coast of Mexico and central America. Captain Rula Deisher of the Cutter Monro called the seizure of the drugs a testament to the “dedication and grit” of the crew. In a press release, Deishe praised the amount of work put in by the team, saying she could not be prouder of them and that the Coast Guard is committed to keeping the U.S. safe by seizing illicit drugs before they are sold on the streets.
The illicit cargo was brought ashore at San Diego. More than $143 worth of cocaine was seized by the Coast Guard in the Pacific in February 2024. The Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron’s Alert Crew noticed a suspected “go-fast” boat during its patrol. According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, such vessels are fitted with high-performance outboard engines. The HITRON helicopter disabled the engines when those in control of the boat ignored calls to stop.
The suspected smugglers were in the process of jettisoning bales of cocaine into the sea when the drugs were seized from the water by a second boat team. The latest quantity seized is the largest amount since the Coast Guard announced in October 2023 that it had offloaded 12,400 pounds of marijuana and 3,200 pounds of cocaine worth nearly $500 million. Commander of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Atlantic Area, Vice Admiral Kevin Lunday, praised the operation for highlighting the commitment of the Coast Guard and its partners to investigating and prosecuting the criminal networks. Schultz also said the operation demonstrated the national security threat posed by organized crime networks and drug cartels.
Drug interdiction operations are collaborative efforts involving federal defense agencies and law enforcement, including the Pentagon, the FBI and Homeland Security among others. Following the latest offload, Rear Admiral Andrew Sugimoto of the Coast Guard District 11 vowed to continue to work to prevent criminals smuggling “vast amounts” of illegal drugs into the country.
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