In a news release, the Coast Guard announced that they intercepted over 14,000 pounds of cocaine across nine separate cases, leading to the arrest of twelve individuals involved in drug smuggling.
The U.S. Coast Guard successfully offloaded approximately $186 million worth of cocaine in Miami, which had been seized during operations conducted in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean
The confiscated drugs arrived in Miami on Friday after Coast Guard helicopters and ships, in collaboration with Customs and Border Protection air and sea assets, carried out the seizures and apprehensions. Lt. Peter Hutchison of the Coast Guard praised the teamwork involved, emphasizing its crucial role in identifying, intercepting, and seizing vessels engaged in illicit trafficking. The Coast Guard, however, did not disclose the specific method used to intercept the drugs.
Traffickers commonly employ semi-submersible vessels, colloquially referred to as “narco subs,” to transport cocaine to Central America and the United States for distribution. These vessels operate partially submerged, making detection and interception challenging for authorities.
It is worth noting that abandoned cocaine occasionally washes up on Florida’s shores
In recent incidents, packages of cocaine, valued at over $100,000, were found on various Florida beaches. Similarly, earlier this year, around 150 pounds of packaged cocaine were discovered on Big Pine Key. In 2019, following Hurricane Dorian’s impact on the Florida coast, bricks of cocaine were also found on two beaches.
The successful interception and offloading of the substantial cocaine shipment underscore the Coast Guard’s ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking, safeguarding the nation’s waters and shores from the influx of illegal substances.
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