The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded approximately 44,550 pounds of cocaine and 3,880 pounds of marijuana, with a combined estimated value of $509.9 million, from the Cutter James at Port Everglades on April 9. The narcotics were seized during 11 separate interdictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
The operations resulted in the detention of 34 individuals suspected of drug trafficking. The interdictions are linked to ongoing federal criminal investigations involving transnational criminal and terrorist organizations, including the Clan del Golfo, Sinaloa Cartel, and Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generación.
The Coast Guard provided a breakdown of the interdictions.
On Jan. 5, an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) deployed from James located a suspicious vessel approximately 260 miles off the coast of Ecuador. The vessel was interdicted by the cutter’s boarding team, which detained three suspected traffickers and seized approximately 2,025 pounds of cocaine.
On Jan. 6, a maritime patrol aircraft identified three go-fast vessels operating roughly 280 miles off Ecuador. Using support from the UAS and a Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) aircrew, James’ boarding teams simultaneously interdicted all three vessels, detaining nine individuals and seizing approximately 13,960 pounds of cocaine.
On Jan. 7, a low-profile go-fast vessel was detected about 330 miles off the Galapagos Islands. After the HITRON aircrew employed airborne use-of-force tactics, the vessel was stopped and boarded. The operation resulted in the detention of three suspects and the seizure of over 8,240 pounds of cocaine.
On Jan. 11, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP-AMO) aircrew identified a go-fast vessel about 275 miles off Ecuador. A coordinated effort between James and Coast Guard Cutter Stone’s embarked HITRON aircrew led to the interdiction of the vessel. Three individuals were detained, and approximately 3,385 pounds of cocaine were seized.
On Jan. 18, Mohawk’s crew detected a suspicious go-fast vessel around 185 miles off Ecuador. The suspects began jettisoning narcotics, and James’ small boat pursued the fleeing vessel from about 60 nautical miles away. While Mohawk’s crew recovered the jettisoned bales, James’ boarding teams interdicted the vessel, detained three individuals, and recovered roughly 5,950 pounds of cocaine.
On Jan. 30, multiple suspicious go-fast vessels were detected about 380 miles west of Peru by James’ UAS crew. Surface use-of-force tactics were used to stop one of the vessels. The boarding team detained three suspects and seized approximately 3,870 pounds of cocaine.
On Feb. 1, a UAS crew aboard James spotted another suspicious vessel operating about 280 miles off the coast of Ecuador. The boarding team interdicted the vessel, detained three suspects, and seized over 3,630 pounds of cocaine.
On Feb. 3, James’ UAS detected additional go-fast vessels operating roughly 215 miles off Peru. The cutter’s boarding team interdicted one of the vessels, detained three individuals, and seized nearly 3,490 pounds of cocaine.
On Feb. 15, a CBP-AMO aircrew spotted a go-fast vessel about 260 miles off Costa Rica. After the non-compliant vessel was compelled to stop using airborne use-of-force tactics, James’ boarding team interdicted the vessel, detained four individuals, and seized nearly 3,880 pounds of marijuana.
The patrol involved personnel and assets from Coast Guard Cutters James and Mohawk, HITRON Jacksonville, the Tactical Law Enforcement Team-Pacific (PAC-TACLET), CBP-AMO, and the Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-S). Interdiction efforts in the Eastern Pacific are conducted under the authority of the Eleventh Coast Guard District, based in Alameda, California. JIATF-S, headquartered in Key West, oversees aerial and maritime monitoring and transitions interdiction efforts to Coast Guard units when law enforcement action is required.
These operations are part of the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces’ (OCDETF) Panama Express Strike Force and Operation Take Back America. The multi-agency initiative aims to dismantle high-level criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking and related criminal enterprises.
USCGC James is a 418’ Legend-class national security cutter homeported in Charleston, S.C., and operates under U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command.
