U.S. Coast Guard seizes 3,350 lbs of marijuana from a smuggling vessel

The Coast Guard seized approximately 3,350 pounds of marijuana in mid-May with an estimated value of approximately $6 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 Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL-754) to the go-fast vessel’s position.

Once on scene, James’ crew initiated a pursuit of the suspected smugglers, who attempted to evade while throwing contraband overboard.

The James’ Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew disabled the boat’s engines and a Coast Guard boatcrew boarded the vessel discovering four suspected smugglers and approximately 3,350 pounds of marijuana aboard.

On April 1, U.S. Southern Command began enhanced counter-narcotics operations in the Western Hemisphere to disrupt the flow of drugs in support of Presidential National Security Objectives. Numerous U.S. agencies from the Departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security cooperated in the effort to combat transnational organized crime. The Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with allied and international partner agencies, play a role in counter-drug operations.

The fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean requires unity of effort in all phases from detection, monitoring and interdictions, to criminal prosecutions by international partners and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in districts across the nation. The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean is conducted under the authority of the 11th Coast Guard District, headquartered in Alameda. The interdictions, including the actual boardings, are led and conducted by members of the U.S. Coast Guard.