Coast Guard executes international narcotics seizures

Coast Guard officials said crews recently executed narcotics seizures in international waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean Sea.

The Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton crew offloaded approximately 11,500 pounds of cocaine and approximately 17,000 pounds of marijuana worth more than $228 million. The cutter Resolute crew was responsible for one interdiction, seizing about 1,100 pounds of marijuana.

Meanwhile, per authorities, the USS Nitze crew with embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Team 406 was responsible for two interdictions, seizing approximately 1,700 pounds of cocaine and about 6,100 pounds of marijuana.

The USS Shamal crew, with an embarked Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Team 109, was responsible for one interdiction, seizing approximately 800 pounds of marijuana.

“We are proud to support the President’s national security strategy by keeping illegal drugs off American streets,” Capt. Timothy Cronin, commanding officer of the Hamilton, said. “I am extremely proud of this crew as they sailed short-handed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and delivered tremendous results.”

Various agencies representing the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security participated in the transnational organized crime combating initiative. The Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement play a role in counter-drug operations.