Their efforts resulted in the seizure of 5,851 pounds of cocaine worth more than an estimated $100 million.
The previous week, the crew was in San Diego, Calif., offloading more than 18,000 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $312 million. The drugs were ceased over the course of “seven separate suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions and disruptions by five Coast Guard cutter crews”. The operation occurred between October and December while the crews patrol in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the Mexican, Central and South American coasts, according to the agency.
“This offload demonstrates another successful example of the ‘Cycle of Justice,’” said Vice Adm. Linda L. Fagan. “This cycle begins with intelligence-driven detection and monitoring of illicit activities that then cue the interdiction and apprehension of smugglers and contraband, and ultimately leads to criminal prosecution,” she said. “This ‘Cycle of Justice’ disrupts a ‘Cycle of Crime,’ which left unchecked, fuels violence and instability that corrodes our hemisphere’s social and economic fabric, and directly contributes to historically high drug-related deaths in neighborhoods across North America.”
