Coast Guard offloads nearly 50 million dollar in illegal narcotics interdicted in Eastern Pacific Ocean.
The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba pose with more than 3,400 pounds of cocaine and 4,410 pounds of marijuana with a combined assessed street value of approximately $50 million in Port Everglades, Florida, Aug. 23, 2024.
Escanaba’s crew worked alongside an embarked Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron aircrew, Law Enforcement Detachment 107 from Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team Pacific, and interagency and international partners to interdict illicit narcotics in the international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Eric Rodriguez.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The crew of the USCGC Escanaba (WMEC 907) and a HITRON MH-65 Dolphin detachment returned home following a 46-day anti-drug patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Wednesday, August 28, 2024.
While deployed, crew members supported the Coast Guard Eleventh District, headquartered in Alameda, California, and Joint Interagency Task Force – South, headquartered in Key West, Florida.
During the patrol, Escanaba’s crew disrupted illegal narcotics smuggling, interdicting 3,408 pounds of cocaine and 4,418 pounds of marijuana valued at nearly $50 million during two separate interdictions. The drugs were offloaded in Port Everglades, Florida on Aug. 23.
USCGC Escanaba’s drug seizures contributed directly to furthering Coast Guard objectives to combat transnational criminal organizations and enhance regional stability and security.
While at sea, Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba crew was assisted by members of Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON), based in Jacksonville, Florida and members of Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET) Pacific – Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) 107, based in San Diego, California.
HITRON aircrews delivered air support for the use of force and enhanced long-range detection capabilities while deployed aboard Escanaba. The TACLET Pacific LEDET supplied skilled boarding personnel critical for mission execution and served as a force multiplier for other law enforcement activities.
“The crew of Escanaba and our shipmates from HITRON and TACLET are to be commended for executing a demanding mission with professionalism and precision,” said Cmdr. Jared Silverman, commanding officer of Cutter Escanaba. “In concert with the Coast Guard’s partner agencies and with support from Joint Interagency Task Force – South, the accomplishments of Escanaba serve as a reminder of how vital this mission is.”
Escanaba is a 270-foot, Famous-class medium-endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia. The cutter’s primary duties are counter-narcotics operations, migrant interdiction, living marine resources protection, and search and rescue in support of U.S. Coast Guard operations throughout the Western Hemisphere.
For more, follow U.S. Coast Guard on Facebook, Instagram and X.
–USCG–
For more Hlcopters Magazine breaking news, stories, images and videos visit hlcopters.com and follow us on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
