The US Coast Guard has seized more than 14,153 pounds of cocaine worth more than $186 million in Miami, according to a news release.
Authorities said the drugs were intercepted during nine separate cases in international waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea.
Twelve suspected smugglers were also apprehended and face prosecution in federal courts by the Department of Justice, according to the release.
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Bear offloaded more than 14,153 pounds of cocaine in an attempt to combat the flow of illicit drugs through the Caribbean Region into the United States.
“The contraband offloaded today represents the professional expertise and dedication of U.S. defense and law enforcement agencies working together to combat the flow of illicit drugs through the Caribbean Region into the United States,” said Lt. Peter Hutchison, duty enforcement officer at Coast Guard District Seven in a news release.
Lt. Peter Hutchison added that “This teamwork is imperative to the identification, interception, and seizure of vessels engaged in illicit trafficking and a testament to the hard work of these crews.”
Authorities have not released any information on the suspects.
Detecting and interdicting illegal drug traffickers on the high seas involves significant interagency and international coordination. Interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are carried out by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Coast Guard’s Seventh District, which is headquartered in Miami.
