U.S. Coast Guard Seizes $1.4 Billion in Narcotics
The seizure of cocaine and marijuana, called the largest in Coast Guard history, involved interdiction of drug smuggling vessels by 10 American, Dutch and Canadian ships.
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The U.S. Coast Guard has captured the largest amount of illegal narcotics in its history— worth more than $1.4 billion — at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Fl., reports USA Today. The agency announced that the crew of the Cutter James offloaded about 59,700 pounds (27,079 kilograms) of cocaine and approximately 1,430 pounds (548 kilograms) of marijuana. Multiple Coast Guard units, along with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol and Canadian partners, assisted with the effort. The suspected drug smuggling vessels were stopped by 10 American, Dutch and Canadian ships.
Vice Admiral Steven Poulin, Commander Atlantic Area, said that the next steps are to hand the drugs over to their inter-agency team and then work with the U.S. attorney’s office to hold those trafficking the drugs accountable. Coast Guard officials said it was the largest offload in the service’s history and double what was found in their patrol in the fall of 2020.
