Over 2,000 lbs of cocaine seized in the Caribbean Sea

MIAMI, July 21, CMC – The United States Coast Guard offloaded approximately 2,300 pounds of cocaine, worth an estimated wholesale value of US$35 million interdicted in the Caribbean Sea.



Coast Guard officials reported that on July 14, a deployed Air Station Miami aircrew aboard an HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircraft located a go-fast vessel with suspicious packages visible onboard.On receiving the report, the Coast Guard in Puerto Rico diverted the Coast Guard Cutter Legare to respond.



The Legare launched a boatcrew and a helicopter crew , on detection, the suspected smugglers jettisoned 42 bales, which later tested positive for cocaine.



Four suspected smugglers were eventually detained.



The interdiction was a result of Operation Unified Resolve, a Department of Homeland Security multi-agency law enforcement operation to support ongoing efforts in the Caribbean Sea, executed under the San Juan Regional Coordinating Mechanism ,Caribbean Border Interagency Group .



All of the contraband was transferred to the Coast Guard Yered to be offloaded in Miami.



The smugglers were transferred to law enforcement officials in Tampa, Florida.