$17 million worth of cocaine seized in southwest Caribbean Sea, four arrested

MIAMI — The Coast Guard nabbed 1,400 pounds of cocaine from a vessel in the southwest Caribbean Sea worth about $17 million.

The cocaine was seized during a patrol on January 24. when Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine officers located a "suspicious" vessel with four people aboard.

Authorities removed 18 bales that later tested positive for cocaine.

The 18 bales and four suspected smugglers were transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Valiant and taken to law enforcement agents ashore.

Crewmembers from Coast Guard Station in Miami Beach rendezvoused with the cutter offshore and transferred the bales at Base Miami Beach on Feb. 19.