Miami Beach, FL — The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) announced the interception of over $20 million worth of illicit drugs this week following four coordinated maritime operations in the Caribbean Sea.
Authorities offloaded 2,220 pounds of cocaine and 3,320 pounds of marijuana Wednesday at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach, where officials emphasized the importance of multinational cooperation in disrupting transnational criminal organizations.
Massive Drug Bust: Four Interdictions, One International Effort
The seizures were the result of four separate encounters involving:
- U.S. Coast Guard
- U.S. Navy
- Royal Netherlands Navy
- Royal Canadian Navy
In one operation, a Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) team aboard the Royal Netherlands Navy ship Friesland intercepted a suspected smuggling vessel off Venezuela’s coast on June 15.
“A Team Effort to Protect Our Shores”
“Stopping harmful and illicit narcotics from reaching our shores and entering our communities is a team effort,”
— Cmdr. Brian Gismervik, Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Cutter Northland.
Gismervik emphasized that tackling organized maritime smuggling requires a joint-force approach combining the efforts of the Department of Defense (DoD), Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and international allies.
USCG Shares Drug Offload Footage and Smuggler Interception
The Coast Guard released striking images and video footage of the offloaded black-wrapped drug bundles as well as aerial photos from the June 15 smuggler encounter.
Those visuals highlight the scale and coordination involved in such maritime interdictions. At this time, the identities and nationalities of suspects involved have not been disclosed.
Why This Matters
The estimated street value of the seized drugs stands at over $20 million, a significant win in the ongoing fight against the illegal drug trade and its impact on communities across the U.S.
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What’s Next?
- Investigation into the suspects is ongoing.
- The seized drugs will be catalogued and destroyed by federal authorities.
- Joint maritime patrols are expected to continue throughout the summer.
We Want to Hear From You!
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