Coast Guard Confiscates $158M in Narcotics in Eastern Pacific Ocean
Crew aboard the Coast Guard cutters Steadfast, Vigilant and Mohawk confiscated millions of dollars in illegal drugs during counter-narcotics patrols in the Eastern Pacific Ocean from May through July, the Guard announced this week.
On July 17, the crew of the Steadfast offloaded over 11,600 pounds of cocaine and 5,500 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $158 million in San Diego.
“Their unwavering commitment while interdicting drug smugglers at sea is not only commended, but their continued efforts are unmatched,” Coast Guard Eleventh District Commander Rear Adm. Andrew Sugimoto said.
“The crew of the Steadfast worked incredibly hard, day and night, to stop three smuggling vessels, preventing more than five tons of illicit narcotics from reaching American soil,” Steadfast Commanding Officer Cmdr. Brock Eckel stated.
Coast Guard officials have said the fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean requires unity of effort in all phases from detection monitoring and interdictions to criminal prosecutions by international partners and U.S. Attorneys’ offices in district nationwide.
The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean is conducted under the authority of the Eleventh Coast Guard District, headquartered in Alameda, Calif.
The Steadfast is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Astoria, Ore. The vessel patrols the western seaboard of the United States, Mexico and North and Central America conducting search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, living marine resource protection, and homeland defense operations.
Source: https://fishermensnews.com/coast-guard-confiscates-158m-in-narcotics-in-eastern-pacific-ocean/
