Drugs intercepted by Coast Guard during the first two months of 2021.
Roughly 7,500 pounds of cocaine and marijuana was offloaded this week from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf. The estimated $127 million in drugs had been seized in January and February by five Coast Guard vessels in the eastern Pacific from 10 smuggling vessels.
The commandant of the Coast Guard praised the joint efforts of federal and military agencies. “The 7,000 pounds of cocaine offloaded today was interdicted as a result of extraordinary effort and joint and interagency partnerships,” said Admiral Schultz. “While the Bertholf may have physically stopped or interdicted the drug smuggling vessels, our DOD and DHS partners, particularly CBP Air and Marine Operations maritime patrol aircraft, coordinated through Joint Interagency Task Force-South, put the Bertholf in the right place at the right time to conduct at-sea interdictions.”
The Coast Guard seized nearly 4,000 pounds of drugs in the last fiscal year, as well as apprehending over 1,000 illegal immigrants and smugglers. Search and rescue operations during that timeframe saved 138 lives and assisted 252 people.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the Department of Defense as they work with other agencies to protect Americans.
- For the Department of Homeland Security as they oversee the efforts of the Coast Guard.
- For all the U.S. agencies cooperatively seeking to safeguard the nation.
Sources: U.S. Southern Command, Military.com
