The U.S. Coast Guard confiscated 16 tons of cocaine worth $420 million in Port Everglades of Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Tuesday, March 28. The U.S. Coast Guard ship Cutter James was filled with approximately 16 tons of cocaine, which equates to a street value of about $420 million.
The illegal cargo was seized in 17 separate raids by officials on smugglers and their operations off of the eastern Pacific, Central, and South American shores. American and Canadian coastal vessels cooperated in the raids.
The mission, which took over 26 days, was code-named operation ‘HITRON,’ which stood for ‘helicopter, interception, and tactical squadron.’
Via CBS:
The cutter James and the agency’s helicopter interdiction squad were responsible for five seizures, netting an estimated 5.19 tons of cocaine.
“With this ship, we’re capable of owning the night,” said the James’ Captain Mark Fedor.
Fedor said the technological advances on the ship, along with the men and women who work in the dark and dangerous conditions, make them a force to be reckoned with at sea. Captain Keith Gavin, who over seas the helicopter squadron, said they average about 12 interdictions a month.
“As I like to say, unfortunately, business is good for us. And I wish it wasn’t,” said Gavin.
Over 30 suspected smugglers were arrested during the seizures. They have been sent to various jurisdictions in the United States for trial and prosecution.
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