USCGC Resolute’s law enforcement team board a suspected drug trafficking vessel on the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Dec. 10, 2023.
The USCGC Resolute is homeported in St. Petersburg, Fla and was deployed to the Eastern Pacific Ocean conducting counter narcotics operations in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South.
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Resolute photo.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Coast Guard Cutter Resolute (WMEC 620) crew and an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from HITRON returned from a 60-day counterdrug patrol and offloaded approximately $55 million worth of illicit narcotics in St. Petersburg. Monday, January 29, 2024.
Patrolling in support of Joint Interagency Task Force – South, the Cutter Resolute crew stopped two suspected drug trafficking ventures, preventing 6,565 pounds of marijuana and approximately 3,700 pounds of cocaine from entering the United States, and detained six suspected traffickers.
Supporting the USCGC Resolute was an embarked MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew from the HITRON (Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron), and a law enforcement detachment from Tactical Law Enforcement Team – South.
During the patrol, Resolute’s crew met with Panama’s National Aeronaval Service to strengthen the partnership between the United States and Panama, and discuss strategies to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
«The pride and dedication of Resolute’s crew was evident throughout the entirety of our patrol,» said Cmdr. Matthew R. Kolodica, commanding officer of Resolute. «Despite being deployed throughout the holiday season, the crew served with professionalism. The result of their collected effort was an extremely successful patrol which kept $55 million dollars of drugs from reaching its intended destination. Every Resolute sailor and their loved ones should be proud; they are a living example of the Coast Guard’s motto, «Semper Paratus – Always Ready.» It is an honor to lead such a fine ship and crew.»
The fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea requires a unity of effort in all phases, from detection and monitoring to interdiction and apprehension, through criminal prosecutions by international partners and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in districts across the nation. Joint Interagency Task Force – South in Key West, Florida conducts the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs. The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean is conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 11th District, headquartered in Alameda, California, and the law enforcement phase of operations in the Caribbean is conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 7th District, headquartered in Miami. The interdictions, including the actual boardings, are led and conducted by members of the U.S. Coast Guard.
These interdictions relate to Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) designated investigations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach.
Coast Guard Cutter Resolute is a 210-foot, Reliance-class medium endurance cutter homeported in St. Petersburg with a crew of 80. The cutter’s primary missions include law enforcement, search and rescue, protection of living marine resources, homeland security and defense operations, international training and humanitarian operations throughout the Western hemisphere.
–USCG–
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