Coast Guard Confiscates $20 Million In Cocaine
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Coast Guard officials took down suspected smugglers and landed more than 1,300 pounds of cocaine which is worth at least $20 million.
"In the past 24 hours we've offloaded $23 million worth of cocaine and marijuana," said Chief Petty Officer Ryan Doss of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The drugs were found during Operation Unified Resolve and were unloaded Saturday morning at the Coast Guard station on Miami Beach.
Authorities aboard an HC-144 spotted a go-fast boat on April 21 southwest of the Dominican Republic with suspicious packages on board.
"Vectored in a small boat crew and an armed helicopter from the Coast Guard Cutter Spencer...Combined they were able to stop the vessel," said Doss.
Coast Guard Cutter Spencer arrived to find 25 packages that tested positive as cocaine.
The two suspected smugglers aboard were taken into custody and transferred to law enforcement officials in Miami.
"This seizure highlights the hard work and dedication of our crews in stopping the illegal flow of drugs in the Caribbean and reducing the destabilizing effects that drugs have on society," said Cmdr. Anthony Williams, the commanding officer of the Spencer said in a press release.
This adds to the drugs confiscated during 2013 which totaled $22 million in marijuana and $1.8 billion in cocaine.
"This is an ongoing effort not just to stop the flow of drugs going to the United States but also going to our territories - protecting Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands," said Doss.
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