The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter ‘Margaret Norvell’ (WPC – 1105) offloaded 200 pounds of cocaine on January 30 and transferred custody of four suspected smugglers to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Special Agents in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The Coast Guard and Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) authorities found the $3 million dollar cocaine shipment and apprehended the suspected smugglers, following the interdiction of a go-fast vessel on 28 January night in waters north of Arecibo, Puerto Rico.
Specifically, the suspected smugglers are Dominican nationals, who are facing federal prosecution by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Puerto Rico.
While on a routine patrol, the crew of a HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft from Coast Guard Air Station Miami detected a suspicious go-fast vessel late night transiting with four people onboard, approximately 20 nautical miles north of Isabela, Puerto Rico.
The go-fast was transiting southeast without the use of navigational lights.
Coast Guard Watchstanders in Sector San Juan alerted CBIG partner agencies, launched a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter for air support and diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell to interdict the go-fast.
The crew of a Puerto Rico Police Department FURA marine unit also responded and supported the interdiction.
Throughout the pursuit, the coast guard aircrews approached the cutter Margaret Norvell to the go-fast’s position.
When they landed on the scene, the Norvell’s crew launched the cutter’s Over the Horizon Boat IV that closed-in and interdicted the suspect vessel.
During the pursuit, the HC-144 Ocean Sentry crew observed multiple bales jettisoned into the water from the go-fast.
The Coast Guard helicopter also vectored-in the crew of the Puerto Rico Police Department marine unit to the area of the jettisoned cargo, where the crew recovered three bales with 200 pounds of cocaine. The Norvell crew embarked the suspected smugglers along with the seized contraband.
The go-fast was destroyed as a hazard to navigation.
The smugglers and seized contraband were transferred to the custody of DEA Special Agents assigned to CCSF, who are leading the investigation into this case.
The interdiction resulted from the law enforcement efforts in support of Operation Caribbean Guard, the Caribbean Border Interagency Group and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force (CCSF).
Concluding, Lt. Carl Luxhoj, Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen MH-65 Dolphin helicopter pilot, noted
Tonight’s success was a total team effort. The combined air support from both the fixed wing and rotary wing aircrews made the surface intercept of the suspect vessel possible…
