The crew of the Coast Guard cutter Diligence recently interdicted 2,927 pounds of cocaine during two separate cases while patrolling the Caribbean Sea.
Crewmembers located a fishing vessel in the Eastern Caribbean Sea on Sept. 16. Diligence crewmembers made a plain-view discovery and retrieved 54 individually wrapped packages that tested positive for cocaine. The cocaine weighed 119 pounds and has an estimated street value of $1.5 million.
The contraband and five detainees were transferred to the District of U.S. Virgin Islands.
On Sept. 3, Diligence crewmembers located a 35-foot fishing vessel in the Western Caribbean Sea. The Diligence crew launched its small boat to stop the vessel in order for Diligence’s boarding team to conduct a Right of Visit boarding in accordance with international law.
The boarding team made a discovery of suspicious packages testing positive for cocaine. The crew was able to detain four suspected smugglers aboard the vessel and prevent the trafficking of 2,808 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of $34 million.
