Coast Guard Offloads 13 Tons Of Cocaine In South Florida

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL — The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded more than 27,300 pounds of cocaine in Fort Lauderdale on Monday. The drugs have an estimated value of $367 million.

Officials said the cocaine was seized in international waters of the Caribbean Basin and the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Mexico as well as Central and South America. It arrived aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James.

In addition to the cocaine, the Coast Guard also offloaded 11,000 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $10.1 million.

“These drugs will not reach Main Street USA due to the efforts of the James crew and other Coast
Guard cutters involved in these interdictions," explained Capt. Jeffrey Randall, commanding officer of the James. "The James crew conducted counter-drug operations with the cooperative efforts with regional partner nations, like Columbia, Costa Rica and alongside the agencies involved in Operation Martillo to stop the flow of illegal narcotics into the United
States.

The total includes contraband seized and recovered in 18 separate interdictions of suspected drug smuggling vessels by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Watch video of the offloading process below courtesy of the U.S. Coast Guard:

Of the more than more than 13 tons of cocaine and more than 5 tons of marijuana:

• The Coast Guard Cutter Valiant (WMEC-621) crew was responsible for two cases, seizing approximately 4,184 pounds of cocaine.
• The Coast Guard Cutter Spencer (WMEC-905) crew was responsible for one interdiction seizing approximately 1,477 pounds of cocaine.
• The cutter James crew was responsible for five interdictions seizing approximately 7,022 pounds of cocaine and 4,085 pounds marijuana.
• The Coast Guard Cutter Northland (WMEC-904) was responsible for two interdictions seizing more than 12,214 pounds of cocaine.
• The Coast Guard Cutter Harriett Lane (WMEC-903) crew was responsible for two cases, seizing nearly 750 pounds of cocaine and 5,540 pounds of marijuana.
• The Coast Guard Cutter Thetis (WMEC-910) crew was responsible for one case, seizing approximately 160 pounds of cocaine.
• The Coast Guard Cutter Venturous (WMEC-625) crew was responsible for one case, seizing approximately 890 pounds of cocaine.
• The Coast Guard Cutter Confidence (WMEC-619) crew was responsible for one case, seizing nearly 110 pounds of cocaine and 1,600 pounds of marijuana.
• The Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk (WMEC-913) crew was responsible for one case, seizing approximately 1,930 pounds of cocaine.
• The Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant (WMEC-617) crew was responsible for one case, seizing approximately 800 pounds of cocaine.