ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (CBS12) — Nearly 12,600 pounds of cocaine, which is valued at over $93 million, was offloaded in St. Petersburg after a 59-day patrol by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Resolute.

“Yet again, the crew impressed me with their ability to achieve significant operational success and protect American interests while fighting every day to maintain a nearly 60-year-old ship in a challenging maritime environment,” said Cmdr. Ian Starr, Resolute’s commanding officer.

Nearly 12,600 pounds of cocaine, which is valued at over $93 million, was offloaded in St. Petersburg after a 59-day patrol by the U.S. Coast Guard. (PA1 Perkofski)

Nearly 12,600 pounds of cocaine, which is valued at over $93 million, was offloaded in St. Petersburg after a 59-day patrol by the U.S. Coast Guard. (PA1 Perkofski)

USCG said that Resolute collaborated with the Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-South), a U.S. Department of Defense command, to counter illicit drug trafficking in the Western Hemisphere. The crew worked to detect, deter, and intercept drug smuggling operations into the United States.

For several weeks, Resolute was operating in the Eastern Pacific, overseeing an area exceeding 1,000,000 square miles. Midway through the patrol, other cutters like Escanaba, Tahoma, and Hamilton joined the effort, enhancing coverage of major drug-trafficking routes from Ecuador to the U.S., per the report.

See also: Multi-agency operation leads to arrest of two men in St. Lucie County

Throughout their patrol, the crew of Resolute interdicted six vessels, including a sailing boat, a fishing vessel, and four high-speed go-fast boats.

According to the USCG, one operation involved launching an Over-the-Horizon Cutter Boat (OTH) from about 70 nautical miles away to intercept a fast-moving vessel south of the Galapagos Islands.

The crew reported finding nearly 5,000 pounds of cocaine hidden in the cabin of a suspicious vessel during their patrol.

The USCG said that less than two weeks later, Resolute pursued a go-fast vessel in rough seas and uncovered over 3,700 pounds of cocaine.

Just a day later, Resolute intercepted another vessel carrying more than 3,900 pounds of cocaine, per officials.

The USCG said that the three operations averted the trafficking of over $93.2 million in narcotics into American communities.

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