The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma offloaded around 9,970 pounds of cocaine, with an approximate street value of $73.7 million, at Port Everglades on Tuesday.
"Bravo Zulu to the crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma (WMEC-908) for their successful drug offload in Port Everglades, FL, today," the U.S. Coast Guard said. "Teaming up with our partners at @jiatfs, the crew seized an impressive 9,970 pounds of cocaine. As the nation’s maritime counter-drug leader, the Coast Guard is increasing operations to interdict, seize, and disrupt transshipment of cocaine and other bulk illicit drugs by sea."
According to a U.S. Coast Guard release, the contraband was confiscated on June 24 from a ship approximately 120 miles northwest of Ecuador by the crew of the Tahoma. The Cutter Tahoma is a 270-foot, medium endurance cutter homeported out of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island.
The ship was notably used to provide humanitarian aid and law enforcement support in 2010 following the earthquake in Haiti.
Commanding Officer Cmdr. Nolan Cuevas applauded the crew's performance after the confiscation.
“I couldn't be more impressed with the determination and teamwork displayed by this crew," Cuevas said. "They executed this interdiction with precision and professionalism."
“Behind every successful deployment is a dedicated team of logistics and support personnel," Cuevas continued. "Their tireless efforts ensured we had the resources and maintenance support to operate. Our collective actions reaffirm the Coast Guard’s unwavering commitment to protecting our nation’s borders and the safety of our citizens.”
Along with the Cutter Tahoma, the operation received assistance from the U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team, U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety & Security Team Houston, Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South), and Southwest Coast Guard District staff.
Joint Interagency Task Force-South specifically plays a major role in detecting and monitoring illegal drug transit by air and sea. Once an interdiction becomes imminent, operational control is overseen by the U.S. Coast Guard for the apprehension phase
More specifically, interdictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean are handled by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Southwest Coast Guard District based out of Alameda, California.
