MIAMI \u2014 U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba\u2019s crew offloaded approximately 7,250 pounds of cocaine and 2,082 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $57 million, Monday, in Port Everglades.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The seized contraband was the result of two interdictions in the Caribbean Sea by the crews of USCGC Escanaba and USCGC Richard Dixon with an embarked Coast Guard law enforcement detachment.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe excellent watchstanding and quick, crucial decisions enabled success in this interdiction,\u201d said Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Strong, a boatswain\u2019s mate assigned to Escanaba. \u201cA complete ship-wide evolution must go flawlessly for an interdiction like this to happen. It was a textbook team effort that ensured over 2,000 pounds of illicit narcotics never made it into our communities. Thanks to the crews of Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon and Homeland Security Cutter-Ocean for their partnership – one team one fight.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
The following assets and crews were involved in the interdiction operations:\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n
Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba\u2019s offload continues the Coast Guard\u2019s mission to interdict, seize, and disrupt transshipment of cocaine and other bulk illicit drugs by sea. The Coast Guard\u2019s persistent operations and rapid response have denied criminal organizations billions in illicit revenue and prevented the flow of dangerous drugs into American communities.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Coast Guard is the United States\u2019 lead federal agency for maritime drug interdiction. We are part of the Department of Homeland Security team protecting our nation and are at all times a military service and part of the joint force defending it.\u202fInterdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Coast Guard\u202fSoutheast\u202fDistrict, headquartered in Miami.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported\u202fin Portsmouth, Virginia,\u202funder\u202fU.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command<\/a>.\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n Visit our\u202fNewsroom<\/a>\u202ffor Coast\u202fGuard Southeast District press releases. Visit our\u202fDVIDS account<\/a>\u202ffor Coast\u202fGuard Southeast District imagery.\u202f\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n For breaking news, follow us on\u202fX (formerly Twitter)<\/a>. For\u202fadditional\u202finformation, find us on\u202fFacebook<\/a>\u202fand follow us on\u202fInstagram<\/a>.\u202f\u202f\u00a0<\/p>\n -USCG-\u00a0<\/p>\n