Coast Guard Offloads 6 Tons Of Cocaine In Miami

MIAMI, FL — The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded more than 12,000 pounds of cocaine in Miami on Friday. The drugs have an estimated wholesale value of $190 million.

"These operations enable us to extend our maritime borders, weaken the economic engine of transnational criminal organizations, contribute to enhancing stability and security across our partner nations within Central America, and they combat the drug epidemic within our local communities," explained Cmdr. John Christensen of the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca, which offloaded the drugs at Coast Guard Sector Miami. "I am exceptionally proud of this crew."

Officials said the cocaine was seized in international waters in the eastern Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Mexico as well as coasts in Central and South America. The total includes contraband seized and recovered in more than five interdictions of suspected drug smuggling vessels by U.S. Coast Guard cutters.

"The cutter Seneca’s presence and efforts are critical to disrupting and dismantling the transnational criminal organizations that attempt to smuggle these drugs through the ocean and into Central and North America," Coast Guard officials said.

The Seneca’s crew along with crews from other ships conducted operations targeting transnational criminal organizations in conjunction with Joint Interagency Task Force-South, Department of Defense, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Justice and a number of Coast Guard aircraft.

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

Of the more than six tons of cocaine:

• The Coast Guard Cutter Seneca (WMEC-906) was responsible for two cases, seizing approximately 2,800 pounds of cocaine.
• The Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma (WMEC-908) was responsible for three interdictions seizing approximately 2,500 pounds of cocaine.
• The Coast Guard Cutter Midgett (WMSL-757) was responsible for two cases, seizing approximately 5,700 pounds of cocaine.
• The Coast Guard Cutter Valiant (WMEC-621) was responsible for one case, seizing approximately 1,000 pounds of cocaine.