US

Coast Guard Seizes An Unbelievable $715 Million In Cocaine

Shutterstock/Victoria 1

Daily Caller News Foundation logo
Jonah Bennett Contributor
Font Size:

The Coast Guard is working together with the Royal Canadian Navy to unload 26.5 tons of cocaine in Florida at Port Everglades.

Officials estimate the total value of the seized cocaine at approximately $715 million, The Associated Press reports.

The cocaine was not seized in a single operation, but rather came from 27 separate missions and five bale recovery operations in the Pacific Ocean directed at smuggling boats. These smuggling boats operated off the coasts of Central and South America.

Not only did the Coast Guard seize 26.5 tons of cocaine, but it also arrested about 100 drug smugglers, some of whom will be prosecuted in Florida.

“This not only showcases the threat posed by dangerous cartels, gangs and criminal groups that make up extensive transitional organized crime networks, but it also highlights the commitment of the Coast Guard and its interagency partner’s efforts to detect, interdict, investigate and prosecute operatives for these criminal networks,” Vice Adm. Karl Schultz, commander of the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area, said in a statement.

Earlier this year, the Coast Guard seized six tons of cocaine off the coast of Panama from a makeshift submarine in March. The cocaine was estimated to be worth about $200 million.

The cutter Berthold drew near to the craft and persuaded two smugglers to raise their hands in surrender. Two more smugglers were found on the craft and taken into custody.

Follow Jonah Bennett on Twitter

Send tips to jonah@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporter’s byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.