More than 29,000 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated value of $335.8 million, was unloaded by the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Munro on Nov. 19 in San Diego.
The offload is a result of 11 separate suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions or events off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America in September and October.
“I would put this crew on any mission, anywhere, at any time,” said Capt. James O’Mara, the Munro’s commanding officer said in a statement. “They executed everything asked of them with incredible teamwork and persistence, and we are proud of the results. Hats off to all our international and interagency partners – we absolutely cannot do this mission without them. For our families and loved ones back home: your support keeps us going out there.
"It takes everyone’s head in the game to make these interdictions happen, and we are grateful you have our backs on the home front as we patrol the high seas and do our part to prevent dangerous narcotics from hitting cities around the globe.”
Multiple U.S. agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security, collaborate 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, all play a role in counter-narcotic operations.
“Our partnerships and our collective abilities are vital to the security and prosperity of the hemisphere,” said Rear Adm. Joseph Buzzella, commander, of Coast Guard District Eleven. “The Eastern Pacific is a challenging environment – both operationally and logistically. The transit zone is a vast area of ocean to cover, far from home.
"Despite the challenges, the success of the Munro’s crew highlights the importance of what we do on the high seas.”
The Munro is the sixth Legend Class National Security Cutter, and is homeported in Alameda, California. The ship/s crew can operate in the most demanding open ocean environments, including the hazardous fisheries of the North Pacific Ocean and the vast approaches of the Southern Pacific Ocean, where significant narcotics trafficking occurs.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.