The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded more than 48,000 pounds of seized illegal drugs Wednesday morning at Port Everglades.
The drugs, worth more than $509 million, were seized in 13 interdictions in the eastern Pacific Ocean by the crews of the U.S. Coast Guard cutters James and Mohawk. The cutters had embedded helicopter interdiction tactical squadron aircrews as well as a Tactical Law Enforcement Team-Pacific law enforcement detachment.
On hand for the offload were U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI Director Kash Patel and Vice Admiral Nathan Moore, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area.
Coast Guard’s third drug offload in South Florida this year
This was not the first time this year the Coast Guard offloaded seized drugs in South Florida.
On March 20, the Coast Guard offloaded nearly 46,000 pounds of seized illegal drugs seized in 14 interdictions in the eastern Pacific Ocean by the crews of U.S. Coast Guard cutters Stone and Mohawk. Thirty four suspected smugglers were taken into custody during the interdictions.
The drugs were worth more than $517.5 million.
On March 6, more than 12,000 pounds of cocaine valued at more then $141 million were brought to the Coast Guard Station in Miami Beach. The USCG said they confiscated the drugs in open waters over the last two months by using planes, thermal imaging and speed boats. More than a dozen suspected smugglers were detained in the six interdictions.
