MAYPORT, Fla. - The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Northland turned over approximately 2,400 pounds of cocaine to federal agents in Mayport Monday at 8:30 a.m., following an at sea interdiction with the help of the Jacksonville-Based Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron near Guajira, Colombia, March 10.

The transfer comes after Northland's third go-fast interdiction in as many weeks, yielding a total of 55 bales of cocaine and four bales of heroin with a total estimated street value of $50 million.  Additionally, 11 suspected smugglers, and five persons suspected of supporting drug trafficking, have been transferred to federal agents as a result of Northland's law-enforcement actions.

The March 10 interdiction began when the aircrew from HITRON in Jacksonville deployed with the cutter Northland and patrolling the waters near the Guajira Peninsula, noticed a suspicious vessel sitting idle.

The vessel began to flee and ignored orders from the aircrew to stop.  The helicopter crew brought the vessel to a halt after they employed warning shots and then disabling fire directed at the engine compartment.

The aircrew observed the vessel taking on water and deployed a life raft to the people on board. Once Northland arrived on scene, crews launched a small boat to rescue the five men and then recover 41 bales of cocaine. 

"This has been a highly successful counter narco-terrorism patrol for the ship, crew and the nation; I am really proud of this crew and HITRON," said Cmdr. Christopher Austin, commanding officer of Northland.  "The HITRON-cutter package is an outstanding tool in the war on drugs, our success this deployment has kept close to 2,000 kilos of cocaine and heroin off the streets."

Recently, the Coast Guard set a record for the most cocaine removed for the first quarter of a fiscal year. From Oct. 1, 2006, until Jan.1, 2007, the Coast Guard removed 97,635 pounds of the drug, eclipsing the previous high of 76,925 pounds set during the first quarter of last year.

The cocaine seized to date in fiscal year 2007 exceeds the yearly totals of all but three of the last 15 fiscal years.

The Northland is a 270-foot cutter from Portsmouth, Va., that routinely deploys to the Caribbean Sea more than six months a year to conduct law enforcement, search and rescue, humanitarian, and national defense missions.

The HITRON is based at Cecil Field in Jacksonville conducting routine training along the St. Johns River and off the coast of Jacksonville's beaches. HITRON crews deploy on cutters patrolling known drug transit zones in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean to stop go fast smuggling boats.

To download high-resolution photos, please right click on the thumbnails below and select "save target as." 

 

 

MAYPORT, Fla. - Petty Officer 2nd Class (OS2) Kyle Hamrah stacks a bail of marijuana next to more than 2,400 pounds of cocaine on the flight deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Northland April 9. The cutter Northland offloaded the $50 million of cocaine to DEA agents at pier side. The Northland and Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, from Jacksonville, Fla., seized the drugs, off the coast of Columbia March 10. A portion of the drugs will be used for prosecution and the rest of the drugs will be destroyed. Coast Guard photograph by PA2 Bobby Nash.

 MAYPORT, Fla. -- Petty Officer 3rd Class (GM3) Angel Rios stands keeps a vigil watch over more than 2,400 pounds of cocaine on the flight deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Northland April 9. The cutter Northland offloaded the $50 million of cocaine to DEA agents at pier side. The Northland and Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, from Jacksonville, Fla., seized the drugs, off the coast of Columbia March 10. A portion of the drugs will be used for prosecution and the rest of the drugs will be destroyed. Coast Guard photograph by PA2 Bobby Nash.

 

 

MAYPORT, Fla. - 2,400 pounds of cocaine and four bales of marijuana is stacked neatly on the deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Northland April 9. The $50 million in cocaine was seized off the coast of Columbia by the cutter Northland and the Coast Guard's Helicopter Tactical Interdiction Squadron, from Jacksonville, Fla., March 10. A portion of the drugs will be used for prosecution and the rest of the drugs will be destroyed. Coast Guard photograph by PA2 Bobby Nash.

Video can only be viewed on Quick Time Media Player. To download, please right click on the descriptions below and select "save target as." 

 

Offload 1 - The Coast Guard Cutter Northland pulling in to Naval Station Mayport, Fla., to offload more than 2,400 pounds of cocaine.

Offload 2 - Crew members offloading more than 2,400 pounds of cocaine from the Coast Guard Cutter Northland.

Offload 3 - Crew members stacking cocaine on the flight deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Northland, which were turned over to federal agents.

Offload 4 - Armed crew members from the Coast Guard Cutter Northland stand guard over more than 2,400 pounds of cocaine.

Offload 5 - Crew members from the Coast Guard Cutter Northland pose for a photo with more than 2,400 pounds of cocaine they helped seize.

Offload 6 - More than 2,400 pounds of cocaine on the flight deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Northland.

Offload 7 - The engine housing from one of the go fast boats that was shot out the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron in order to stop it.

###

The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the
Department of Homeland Security dedicated to protecting the safety and security of America.