MIAMI, CMC – The United States Coast Guard (USCGC) on Friday said the crew of US Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk offloaded more than 13,803 pounds of cocaine and 3,736 pounds of marijuana, seized in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, with a combined estimated street value of about US$185 million in Port Everglades, Florida.
USCGC said crews, working alongside interagency and international partners, interdicted the illegal drugs during six separate cases.
“Our offload today represents the combined efforts of US and allied military units from a Caribbean coalition of partners working together to deny drug trafficking organizations access to maritime smuggling routes,” said Commander David Ratner, commanding officer of USCGC Mohawk.
“I am especially proud of the hard work of the Mohawk crew, and grateful for the opportunity to operate with interagency and NATO partners in support of our National Security.”
Along with the illicit narcotics, USCGC said 10 suspected smugglers were apprehended and will face prosecution in federal courts by the US Department of Justice.
USCGC said the offload included contraband seized by Coast Guard law enforcement detachments deployed aboard HMS Trent, HNLMS Groningen and USS Leyte Gulf, whose crew interdicted a self-propelled semi-submersible vessel in March.
“The fight against transnational criminal organizations requires a unity of effort in all phases, from detection and monitoring to interdiction and apprehension, through to criminal prosecutions by international partners and US Attorneys’ Offices in districts across the nation,” USCGC said.
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