The US Coast Guard offloaded approximately 6 tons of cocaine, Thursday, in Port Everglades, worth an estimated $180 million, that it was seized in international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The seizure represents six separate suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions off the coasts of Central and South America, and Mexico by three USCG cutters between late February and mid-April.
- The USCG Cutter Bertholf was responsible for one case, seizing an estimated 1,653 pounds of cocaine.
- The USCG Cutter Bear was responsible for two cases, seizing an estimated 6,029 pounds of cocaine.
- The USCG Cutter James was responsible for three cases, seizing an estimated 4,313 pounds of cocaine.
Capt. Mark Fedor, commanding officer the cutter James, stated:
The James deployed to the eastern Pacific Ocean for a 20-day period and interdicted over 2,000 kilograms of cocaine from three separate vessels reflecting the significant amount of illicit contraband heading towards the US on a daily basis.
Another drug patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean between early February and early March had resulted in seizure of approximately 36,000 pounds of cocaine. The USCG has increased the US and allied presence in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Basin, which are known drug transit zones off of Central and South America, as part of its Western Hemisphere Strategy.
As explained, during at-sea interdictions in international waters, a suspect vessel is initially located and tracked by allied, military or law enforcement personnel. The interdictions, including the actual boarding, are led and conducted by US Coast Guardsmen. The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific is conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 11th District headquartered in Alameda, California.
Numerous US agencies, including the Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with allied and international partner agencies, play a role in counter-drug operations.