FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard has seized nearly 35,000 pounds (15,000 kilograms) of cocaine from apparent drug smuggling vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The drugs were off-loaded Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Cmdr. Michael Sharp told reporters the drugs were found over the last three months aboard fishing vessels and go-fast boats outfitted to conceal contraband and evade authorities.
The @USCG Cutter Forward is offloading 34,000 lbs of seized cocaine. @ComdtUSCG discusses the threat that criminal organizations pose and the instability they bring with their drug trade to our Central and South American neighbors. pic.twitter.com/iOOZe6qy5h
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) February 5, 2019
Six crews seized the drugs from 21 separate vessels stopped in Pacific waters off Mexico and Central and South America. Sharp said the drugs had a wholesale value of roughly $466 million.
The guard's commandant, Adm. Karl Schultz, said in the last few years, crews have seized 1.3 million pounds (0.6 million kilograms) of cocaine and detained 1,200 suspects at sea.
Schultz said most of the drugs originate in Colombia and are destined for the U.S.
The @USCG to offload 34,780 pounds of cocaine in Port Everglades. Find out more https://t.co/Q7NqjYHR5g pic.twitter.com/HeTeCDEac7
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) February 5, 2019