The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton offloaded more than 16,100 pounds of cocaine worth an assessed street value of approximately $182.8 million in Port Everglades, Fla., on Dec. 2.
The crew worked alongside interagency and international partners to interdict the illicit narcotics in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean off South and Central America, the Coast Guard said in a statement.
Coast Guard crews often deploy to the U.S. Southern Command joint operating area, which includes the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean, to conduct counter drug missions in support of Joint Interagency Task Force-South. Deployments for cutters assigned to the Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command include Panama Canal transits to deny transnational criminal organizations access to maritime trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
“I’m proud of our accomplishments during this three-and-a-half-month deployment,” said Capt. Justin Carter, commanding officer of USCGC Hamilton. “The exceptional crew of Hamilton, with the support of an aircrew from Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Squadron, demonstrated the greatest professionalism, seamanship and airmanship while executing this important and challenging mission at sea in service to nation.”
Involved in the interdictions were Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton, Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, Joint Interagency Task Force-South, and the Eleventh Coast Guard District.
Six suspected smugglers were also transferred to federal custody and face prosecution by the U.S. Department of Justice.
