The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Forward offloaded approximately 6,570 pounds of cocaine worth more than $49.3m at Port Everglades on Thursday, March 19.
The seized contraband was the result of two interdictions in the international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean earlier this year.
A maritime patrol aircraft located a suspicious vessel on Feb. 7, and the USCGC Spencer embarked Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron aircrew employed airborne use-of-force tactics to disable the vessel. Spencer’s boarding team interdicted the vessel and seized approximately 6,435 pounds of cocaine.
Furthermore, a maritime patrol aircraft located a suspicious vessel on March 8, and Forward’s embarked HITRON aircrew employed airborne use-of-force tactics to disable the vessel. Forward’s crew interdicted the go-fast vessel, recovering approximately 130 pounds of cocaine.
To remind, Coast Guard Cutter Forward is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia under U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command.
“I’m incredibly proud of the crew for adding to the success of Operation Pacific Viper,” said Cmdr. Andrew Grantham, Forward’s commanding officer. “The Coast Guard and our partners are working tirelessly to stop narco-terrorists and criminal organizations before their dangerous and illegal cargos reach American shores.”
As reported, 80% of interdictions of U.S.-bound drugs occur at sea. U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Interagency Task Force-South based in Key West conducts the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs.
Once interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the U.S. Coast Guard throughout the interdiction and apprehension.
Interdictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean are performed by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Coast Guard’s Southwest District, headquartered in Alameda, California.
