U.S. Coast Guard Seizes Around 45,600 Pounds Of Illegal Drugs Worth $517.5 Million

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stone unloaded around 45,600 pounds of illegal narcotics worth over $517.5 million at Port Everglades.

The drugs were seized in 14 interdictions in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean and 35 people, suspected to be smugglers, were taken to the shore to be prosecuted in the U.S. courts.

Many U.S. Navy ships were involved in these operations including U.S. Coast Guard Cutters Stone and Mohawk, U.S. Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) Jacksonville and U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team-Pacific (PAC-TACLET) Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATFS) and Eleventh Coast Guard District.

Detection and interdiction of drug traffickers on the seas involves international coordination and the Joint Interagency Task Force-South, in Key West, keeps an eye on such illegal transits.

Once confirmed that an illegal shipment is passing through the waters, the U.S. Coast Guard takes over under the control of the Eleventh Coast Guard with its headquarters in California’s Alameda.

The Coast Guard continues to be vigilant and conduct operations to catch drug cartels which are engaged in transnational crime to transport drugs, threatening the security of the U.S.

USCGC Stone is one of the four 418-foot Legend-Class cutters homeported in Charleston, South California under the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Atlantic Area Command.

The U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Academy, in Charleston, where officers receive training to conduct these missions, celebrated its 20th anniversary recently, on March 14.

References: USCG

Source: Maritime Shipping News