The US Coast Guard and the US Navy interdicted three suspected drug smugglers and more than 7,850 pounds (3,560 kg) of cocaine, with an assessed wholesale value of approximately US$58.1 million, in the Eastern Pacific on Sunday, June 22.
At around 17:34 local time on Sunday, a helicopter aircrew from the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Sampson observed a vessel displaying suspicious behavior. A small boat was launched from Sampson with coast guard law enforcement detachment (LEDET) personnel on board.
The LEDET personnel discovered three suspected drug smugglers aboard the vessel. All three claimed non-US nationality.
The packages aboard the vessel tested positive for cocaine, and all three suspects were taken into custody aboard Sampson.
The vessel, determined to be without nationality, was later sunk as a hazard to navigation.
Sampson is currently conducting operations in direct support of US Northern Command's mission to protect the homeland by enhancing maritime domain awareness and deterring illicit activities in coordination with US inter-agency and law enforcement partners.
The destroyer's current deployment, which commenced earlier this month, is part of the US Department of Defense’s support to national objectives along the US southern border, following Presidential directives and ongoing inter-agency efforts to improve border security and homeland defence.