Coast Guard offloads illicit drugs valued at $93.2 million
Interdiction patrols confiscate 12,600 pounds of cocaine
ST. PETERSBURG – The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Resolute offloaded nearly 12,600 pounds of cocaine, worth an estimated $93.2 million, in their homeport of St. Petersburg, Thursday, following a 59-day patrol in the Eastern Pacific.
Resolute deployed in support of Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-South), a U.S. Department of Defense command that leverages the capabilities of U.S. Intelligence and Law Enforcement agencies, Allies and Partner Nations to detect, monitor, and support interdiction of illicit narcotics movements in the air and maritime domains throughout the Western hemisphere. During their patrol, Resolute’s crew worked to detect, deter, and intercept smuggling of illegal narcotics into the United States.
Resolute spent several weeks as the only U.S. Coast Guard cutter in the Eastern Pacific, playing a critical role in maintaining maritime domain awareness and operational coverage across a vast area, spanning more than 1 million square miles. Halfway through patrol, Resolute was joined by the cutters Escanaba, Tahoma, and Hamilton, providing broad, coordinated coverage across the major drug-smuggling vectors running from Ecuador toward the United States.
The crew expertly completed a total of six vessel interdictions, including a sailing vessel, one fishing vessel, and four go-fast-style speedboats. Although several of the boats were determined to not be carrying illicit contraband at the time of interdiction, they provided excellent opportunities to hone Resolute’s tracking and interception capabilities, often done in coordination with Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) support from the sky. One notable case saw Resolute launching their primary interceptor, an Over-the-Horizon Cutter Boat (OTH), from nearly 70 nautical miles away to successfully intercept a high-speed, go-fast vessel transiting south of the Galapagos.
During this time, Resolute’s law enforcement team successfully interdicted a suspicious vessel and seized nearly 5,000 pounds of cocaine concealed within the vessel’s cabin. Less than two weeks later, Resolute coordinated with an MPA and launched their OTH to pursue a go-fast vessel transiting in heavy seas. While in pursuit, the OTH experienced a critical structural failure, rendering the asset inoperable. Resolute was able to safely recover the disabled OTH, launched their second interceptor, and worked with the MPA to force the go-fast to jettison their load of contraband, more than 3,700 pounds of cocaine. Less than 24 hours after that pursuit, Resolute interdicted yet another go-fast style vessel carrying more than 3,900 pounds of cocaine. Together, these three successful seizures prevented more than $93.2 million in illicit narcotics from reaching American streets.
The OTH casualty significantly reduced Resolute’s interdiction capability and required a rapid solution in a logistically challenging area of operations. Demonstrating remarkable interagency cooperation and logistical agility, the crew of Resolute worked with JIATF-S, the Coast Guard’s Surface Forces Logistics Center (SFLC), and U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, to swiftly coordinate the replacement of the OTH. The replacement boat was airlifted to Panama City, Panama, aboard a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Demanding precise timing and expert execution, the undertaking powerfully underscored the Coast Guard’s dedication to maintaining a persistent and effective presence in its counter-narcotics mission. With the replacement OTH safely cradled aboard the cutter, Team Resolute was able to resume and successfully complete their patrol in the Eastern Pacific drug smuggling vectors.
“Yet again, the crew impressed me with their ability to achieve significant operational success and protect American interests while fighting every day to maintain a nearly 60-year-old ship in a challenging maritime environment,” said Cmdr. Ian Starr, Resolute’s commanding officer.
Resolute is a 210-foot, Reliance-class medium endurance cutter. The cutter’s primary missions are counter drug operations, migrant interdiction, and search and rescue in support of U.S. Coast Guard operations throughout the Western Hemisphere.
These interdictions relate to Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces’ (OCDETF), Strike Force Initiatives and designated investigations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF program can be found HERE.
For information on how to join the U.S. Coast Guard, visit GoCoastGuard.com to learn about active duty, reserve, officer, and enlisted opportunities. Information on how to apply to the U.S. Coast Guard Academy can be found HERE.
Source: United States Coast Guard News