The Coast Guard is at it again.
This time, the sea service seized approximately 1,395 pounds of cocaine in late July with an estimated value of $24 million from a go-fast vessel in international waters of the Pacific Ocean off Central America.
A maritime patrol aircraft spotted a suspected smuggling vessel and diverted the crew aboard the Cutter Bertholf to the go-fast vessel’s position, according to a release.
Coast Guard makes $18.1 million cocaine bust
Once on scene, Bertholf’s crew launched a small-Unmanned Aerial System to locate the suspected smugglers. After the suspected smugglers complied with orders to stop their boat, the Coast Guard crew boarded the vessel and discovered approximately 1,395 pounds of cocaine. Three suspected smugglers aboard the vessel were detained.
The Bertholf, homeported in Alameda, California, was commissioned in 2008.
Coast Guard Narco Sub bust reveals an unadvertised para-military capability
In separate busts, the Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser seized nearly 1,100 pounds of cocaine, and the Cyclone-class patrol ship USS Shamal crew interdicted approximately 3,900 pounds of marijuana, from suspected drug smuggling vessels while on patrol in the Caribbean Sea earlier this month.
The Winslow Griesser is homeported in Puerto Rico. The Legare is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia. The USS Shamal is a 179-foot Cyclone class coastal patrol ship homeported in Mayport, Florida.
