US Coast Guard offloads more than $20m in drugs interdicted in Caribbean Sea

The crew of the US Coast Guard medium endurance cutter USCGC Northland offloaded approximately 2,220 pounds (1,000 kg) of cocaine and 3,320 pounds (1,510 kg) of marijuana worth an estimated US$20.1 million at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach on Wednesday, July 2.

The seized contraband was the result of four interdictions in the Caribbean Sea by the crews of the Royal Canadian Navy patrol ship HMCS William Hall and the Royal Netherlands Navy patrol vessel HNLMS Friesland with embarked US Coast Guard law enforcement detachments.

Other assets involved in the recent interdiction operations include the US Navy guided-missile destroyer USS Cole, Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Jacksonville, and Seventh Coast Guard District staff.

The coast guard said detecting and interdicting illicit drug traffickers on the high seas involves significant inter-agency and international coordination. Joint Interagency Task Force-South in Key West 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 Caribbean Sea are performed by members of the US Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Seventh Coast Guard District, headquartered in Miami.