The nimble maritime law enforcement specialists aboard United States Coast Guard cutters do it once again. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Forward recently returned to port from a multi-day stint at sea, in her hold carrying drug cartel products netted during a collective enforcement effort.
According to their press release, the “U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command-based Cutter Forward crew offloaded more than 34,000 pounds of cocaine Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2019, in Port Everglades, Florida. The drugs were seized at sea off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America in 21 separate interdictions. The drugs are worth an estimated $466 million wholesale.”
But it wasn’t just one Coast Guard Cutter carving up the network of drug traffickers plying their product via waterborne transport. Several USCG Cutters were involved in respective vessel boardings and seizures, culminating in the catch being aggregated on board the Cutter Forward which floated the almost half-billion dollar bales of junk to Florida. Why bring in several ships (leaving territories unguarded) when one can effectively do the job.
The United States Coast Guard Communications Office broke it down for us:
– The Coast Guard Cutter Forward (WMEC-911) was responsible for eight cases seizing an estimated 14,207 pounds of cocaine.
– The Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton (WMSL-753) was responsible for five cases, seizing an estimated 9,460 pounds of cocaine.
– The Coast Guard Cutter Campbell (WMEC-909) was responsible for four cases, seizing an estimated 6,153 pounds of cocaine.
– The Coast Guard Cutter Alert (WMEC-630) was responsible for two cases, seizing an estimated 5,736 pounds of cocaine.
– The Coast Guard Cutter Venturous (WMEC-625) was responsible for one case, seizing an estimated 1,565 pounds of cocaine.
– The Coast Guard Cutter Confidence (WMEC-619) was responsible for one case seizing an estimated 553 pounds of cocaine.
What does $466 mil of cocaine look like? Well, here you go:
That’s some hefty poison reeled in by some diligent nation-state guardians. As one commenter put it: “All this with the lowest budget of the military!” Yes, indeed, the boys and girls patrolling our seas and safeguarding our shorelines ridding filth reaching the sands are handsomely performing with a wonderful numbers on the scoreboard.
Incidentally, did you notice the hull number of the Cutter Forward? 911. I also couldn’t help but notice the Cutter Forward has (ahem) “Forward” on the stern (back) of the vessel. I bet that kept the shipbuilding painters cackling for a spell. But who is not laughing right now are the drug cartel kingpins and all the mules who were nabbed by Coast Guard law enforcement officers. Next!