U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Dana Legg.
MIAMI — The Coast Guard Cutter (USCGC) Thetis crew and a HITRON helicopter aircrew deployed returned home Friday to Key West with 8.8 $ million interdicted in drugs, after completing a 42-day patrol to the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean.
The crew interdicted more than 4,500 pounds of illicit narcotics bound for the maritime domain. In total, the crew prevented more than $8.8 million worth of narcotics from reaching American streets while working in support of U.S. Southern Command’s Joint Interagency Task Force-South, Thetis crew played a critical role in executing the nation’s counter drug mission.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Nicole Groll.
“By remaining active in the Eastern Pacific, we continue to disrupt the flow of illicit and dangerous narcotics into the United States,” said Cmdr. Justin Nadolny, Thetis’ commanding officer. “The high operational tempo of the mission was demanding, and I am extremely proud of what this outstanding crew accomplished.”
Coast Guard Cutter Thetis crew deployed with an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter aircrew capable of conducting airborne use of force from the Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) based in Jacksonville, Florida. The detachment assisted in the interdiction of a go-fast vessel and a low profile vessel suspected of smuggling illicit cargo.
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ensign Patrick David Jackson.
Named for the famous Greek mythology sea nymph and mother of Achilles, Thetis is a 270-foot famous-class cutter homeported in Key West and has a crew complement of 104.
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