$500 million worth of cocaine seized by the United States Coast Guard

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The United States Coast Guard seized cocaine with an estimated street value of around $500 million during a series of interdictions in international waters.

The 18.5 tons (16.7 metric tons) of cocaine was unloaded at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale Thursday.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Lally

In a news release, Coast Guard officials said they worked with other U.S. agencies and law enforcement from other countries to seize the drugs from 15 smuggling boats off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America.

The interdictions, including the actual boarding, are led and conducted by U.S. Coast Guardsmen. The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific are conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 11th District headquartered in Alameda, California.

The operation also led to the arrests of 49 people who will be prosecuted in South Florida.

Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Brandon Murray

Capt. Jeffrey Randall tells the Miami Herald the volume of cocaine being smuggled by water is draining the Coast Guard’s resources. In 2017, the agency seized 226 tons of cocaine and brought in 708 suspects.

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