Crime & Safety
Coast Guard Intercepts $7.5 Million Dollars Of Cocaine
The Coast Guard arrested two Dominican Republic smugglers in a go-fast vessel in the Caribbean Sea. They had more than 550 lbs of cocaine.
U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS —The Coast Guard Cutter Reef Shark apprehended two smugglers and offloaded approximately 551 pounds (250 kilograms) of cocaine on Saturday. The Coast Guard Cutter Kathleen Moore’s intercepted the men in a go-fast smuggling vessel in the Caribbean Sea.
The apprehended smugglers are Dominican Republic nationals, who were charged with possession with intent to distribute cocaine. The seized cocaine has an estimated wholesale value of approximately $7.5 million dollars.
During a routine patrol Wednesday, a U.S. Maritime Enforcement Aircraft (MEA) detected a suspect go-fast vessel, approximately 145 nautical miles south of the Dominican Republic. Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan diverted the cutter Kathleen Moore to carry out the interdiction. With the assistance of the cutter’s small boat, the crew of the Kathleen Moore interdicted the 25-foot vessel that was carrying two men and 10 bales of suspected contraband onboard, which tested positive for cocaine.
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“The crew did a great job working with interagency partners and Coast Guard watchstanders preventing this drug smuggling go-fast from making landfall,” said Lt. Andrew R. Collins, cutter Kathleen Moore commanding officer. “We are glad to help keep these drugs off the streets, and we will continue to work diligently with fellow Coast Guard units and our interagency partners to stop these drug-smuggling attempts in the high seas.”
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