International drug trafficking just took a major blow thanks to the U.S. Coast Guard. On Thursday, the Coast Guard reported that they offloaded approximately 12,000 pounds of cocaine, valued at $275 million, at their base in San Diego. This substantial haul resulted from 11 separate interdictions of suspected smuggling vessels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
The seizures were conducted by crews from three Coast Guard cutters: the USCGC Steadfast, USCGC Vigilant, and USCGC Mohawk. Vice Adm. In a news release announcing the mega-haul, Capt. Tyson Scofield, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, said:
The Waesche crew faced numerous challenges during this patrol, overcoming the hardest adversities and still had 11 successful drug interdictions. Their dedication, strength of character, and resilience ensured the success of our mission, preventing over $275 million worth of illicit narcotics from reaching the United States and protecting our communities from the devastating effects of transnational crime.
The Eastern Pacific Ocean is a known transit zone for narcotics traffickers, with smugglers often employing various methods, including go-fast boats and semi-submersible vessels, to transport large quantities of drugs. The Coast Guard’s persistent presence and interdiction efforts in this region are crucial in curbing the flow of illicit substances.
