The Coast Guard’s at it again.
The crew of the U.S Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf offloaded more than 18,000 pounds of cocaine in San Diego, California worth an estimated $312 million.
“This offload demonstrates another successful example of the ‘cycle of justice,’ said Vice Adm. Linda L. Fagan, Coast Guard Pacific Area commander. “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.”
The cocaine was seized as a result of seven separate drug trafficking interdictions by five Coast Guard cutters operating in international waters in the eastern Pacific from mid-October through early December.
The Northland seized 3,300 pounds; the James, 1,600 pounds, the Harriet Lane, 5,000 pounds, Thetis, 2,400 pounds, and the Bertholf seized 5,800 pounds.
During interdictions in international waters, each suspect vessel is located and tracked by allied, American military or law enforcement personnel. The interdictions, including boardings, are led and conducted by U.S. Coast Guardsmen.
“This is hard, dangerous work for these crews, to actually gain access and get control of these vessels,” Fagan said. “And then there’s just a lot of hard labor to get all these narcotics off these small boats that the narco-traffickers are using.”
The cocaine seized by the Bertholf came as the result of three separate drug interdictions, according to the Coast Guard. The other vessels intercepted a single drug-running vessel each.
“I am deeply proud of the work the men and women of the Bertholf have accomplished,” said Fagan. “I look at theirs as lifesaving work, and while we may never know how many lives were saved here today, this crew and all the crews involved in these interdictions should be proud of what they’ve achieved.”
In fiscal year 2017, the Coast Guard seized about 445,000 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $6 billion. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 10,000 Americans died as the result of overdoses involving cocaine in 2016.
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Reach Julia LeDoux: Julia@connectingvets.com