ST PETERSBURG, Florida (CMC) – The United States Coast Guard said crewmembers aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Venturous yesterday offloaded cocaine valued at about US$23 million after returning from a 40-day patrol in the Caribbean Sea.
The Coast Guard said 700 kilograms of cocaine were seized in support of Operation Caribbean Guard.
It said earlier this month, watch standers at Coast Guard Sector in San Juan, Puerto Rico, received a report from a Caribbean Air Marine Branch maritime patrol aircraft crew of a suspicious 35-foot go-fast vessel south of the Dominican Republic.
Upon detection, it said the crew aboard the go-fast vessel “began jettisoning packages over board”.
The Coast Guard said the crew of the Venturous recovered 28 bales, which later tested positive for cocaine.
Operation Caribbean Guard is a US Department of Homeland Security multi-agency law enforcement operation to support ongoing efforts under the Caribbean Border Interagency Group.
