| Release #: 11-06 |
| Release date: November 06, 2003 |
| Contact: Ensign Eric Willis |
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Coast Guard stops Caribbean smuggling attempt 900 pounds of cocaine seized |
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Coast Guard Cutter Cushing returned to Ponce, Puerto Rico, yesterday with approximately 450 pounds of cocaine from the most recent counter-drug success in the Caribbean. These drugs were turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and represent the latest spoils resulting from the success of the multi-agency, international counter-drug team working throughout the Caribbean. This seizure brings the number of major seizures in the region since Sept. 23 to 20, accounting for more than 29,000 pounds of cocaine and approximately 8,000 pounds of marijuana.
The contraband was recovered from the water during a chase of a go-fast smuggling vessel that began Tuesday and included two other Coast Guard cutters, Dallas and Vashon. The contraband delivered is only about half of that actually seized, the other half remains onboard a Coast Guard cutter at sea. The pack of Coast Guard vessels pursued the smugglers south until they entered Venezuelan territorial seas and beyond U.S. juridsdiction but were unable to stop them.
Dallas is a 378-foot high-endurance cutter based out of Charleston, S.C. Vahson and Cushing are 110-foot patrol boats based out of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
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The U.S. Coast Guard is a military, maritime, multi-mission service within the |
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