The crew of the US Coast Guard medium endurance cutter USCGC Escanaba offloaded approximately 11,922 pounds (5,408 kg) of cocaine worth an estimated US$88.2 million at Port Everglades in Florida on Tuesday, August 5.
The seized contraband was the result of three separate interdictions in the eastern Pacific by the crew of Escanaba, Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team, and embarked Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron aircrew.
The interdiction operations also involved Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S) and staff from Southwest Coast Guard District headquartered in Alameda, California.
JIATF-S conducts the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs. Once an interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the US Coast Guard for the interdiction and apprehension phases.
Interdictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean are performed by members of the US Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Southwest Coast Guard District.