Archive image: A U.S. Coast Guard MH-65 Dolphin, an asset from Coast Guard’s Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON), hovers above the flight deck of Coast Guard Cutter Bear (WMEC 901), Atlantic Ocean, July 13, 2022.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Abban.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. – The USCGC Bear (WMEC 910) and a HITRON aircrew returned home to Coast Guard Base Portsmouth with $186 million in cocaine following a 65-day Caribbean Sea patrol. Thursday, June 22, 2023.
While underway in the Coast Guard 7th District’s area of responsibility and in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South, Coast Guard Cutter Bear conducted six counterdrug interdictions and seized a total of 8,558 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $97 million.
USCGC Bear conducted counterdrug operations as part of a multi-faceted approach to combatting illicit narcotics trafficking across maritime borders. Part of this effort included other Coast Guard assets, an MH-65 Dolphin aircrew from Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) from Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville, Florida, and a deployable specialized forces unit from the Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team.
The Cutter Bear also conducted vertical replenishment with the U.S. Navy vessel USS Little Rock (LCS-9). Little Rock deployed its MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter aircrew to successfully deliver 5,566 pounds of seized cocaine over to Bear’s flight deck. USCGC Bear moored in Miami, last Friday, and offloaded the combined 14,153 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $186 million.
Interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Seventh District, headquartered in Miami. Each case will be prosecuted in a court of law.
–USCG–
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