Coast Guard offloads over $57 million in illicit drugs interdicted in the Caribbean Sea

MIAMI - U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba's crew offloaded approximately 7,250 pounds of cocaine and 2,082 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $57 million, Monday, in Port Everglades.

The seized contraband was the result of two interdictions in the Caribbean Sea by the crews of USCGC Escanaba and USCGC Richard Dixon with an embarked Coast Guard law enforcement detachment.

"The excellent watchstanding and quick, crucial decisions enabled success in this interdiction," said Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Strong, a boatswain's mate assigned to Escanaba. "A complete ship-wide evolution must go flawlessly for an interdiction like this to happen. It was a textbook team effort that ensured over 2,000 pounds of illicit narcotics never made it into our communities. Thanks to the crews of Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon and Homeland Security Cutter-Ocean for their partnership - one team one fight."

The following assets and crews were involved in the interdiction operations:  

• Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba

• U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team - Pacific, LEDET 101 

• Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon

• Homeland Security Cutter-Ocean

• Joint Interagency Task Force South   

• Coast Guard Southeast District watchstanders  

Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba's offload continues the Coast Guard's mission to interdict, seize, and disrupt transshipment of cocaine and other bulk illicit drugs by sea. The Coast Guard's persistent operations and rapid response have denied criminal organizations billions in illicit revenue and prevented the flow of dangerous drugs into American communities.

The Coast Guard is the United States' lead federal agency for maritime drug interdiction. We are part of the Department of Homeland Security team protecting our nation and are at all times a military service and part of the joint force defending it. Interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Coast Guard Southeast District, headquartered in Miami.

Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia, under U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command. 

Visit our Newsroom for Coast Guard Southeast District press releases. Visit our DVIDS account for Coast Guard Southeast District imagery.   

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-USCG-