The U.S. Coast Guard seized a record 76,140 pounds of illicit narcotics valued at $473 million in Port Everglades on Monday. The historic bust from the U.S. Cutter Hamilton included 61,740 pounds of cocaine and 14,400 pounds of marijuana.
“The U.S. Coast Guard, in partnership with our federal, DoD, and international partners, is offloading 61,740 pounds of cocaine, and this represents a significant victory in the fight against transnational criminal organizations, highlighting our unwavering commitment to safeguarding the nation from illicit trafficking and its devastating impacts,” Rear Adm. Adam Chamie, Coast Guard Southeast District commander, said in a release.
“To put this into perspective, the potential 23 million lethal doses of cocaine seized by the U.S. Coast Guard and our partners are enough to fatally overdose the entire population of the state of Florida, underscoring the immense threat posed by transnational drug trafficking to our nation," Chamie added.
The seizure follows another bust by the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma in July.
Specifically, the Coast Guard noted the seized narcotics came from 19 interdictions in international waters in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea beginning in June through August.
In the largest example, Hamilton's crew seized more than 9,100 pounds of cocaine from a vessel approximately 90 miles off the southeast coast of Socorro Island, Mexico, on July 23. In another instance, the USS Minneapolis Saint-Paul’s boarding team intercepted a vessel carrying over 6,400 pounds of cocaine about 130 miles south of Jamaica.
The Royal Netherlands Navy Ship HNLMS Friesland, assisting the U.S. in operations, also seized more than 9,000 pounds of marijuana from a vessel less than 20 miles off the coast of Venezuela.
Along with the U.S. Cutter Hamilton, the operation was assisted by the Cutters Vigilant and Diligence, as well as the Minneapolis and USS Cole. International partners also participated in the sieges, including the aforementioned HNLMS Friesland.
“Team Hamilton, with our partners, worked incredibly hard the last several months to safeguard the American public from the dangers of illicit narcotics entering the United States,” said Hamilton Commanding Officer Capt. John B. McWhite. “This outstanding group of professionals achieved unparalleled results in our nation’s fight against transnational criminal drug organizations.
