US Navy ship recovers $26m worth of cocaine in Pacific

A Virginia-based Navy ship has recovered about $26 million worth of cocaine that was thrown overboard by suspected drug smugglers in the eastern Pacific Ocean, Navy Times reports.

The Navy says the guided-missile frigate Carr recovered more than 700 pounds of cocaine on Oct. 11.

The Navy says a maritime patrol aircraft was sent to intercept a speed boat that was suspected of carrying the drugs. But during the pursuit the crew threw the drugs overboard and eventually escaped. The Carr then conducted a search to find the drugs.

The Carr is currently deployed in support of Operation Martillo, a multi-nation effort to target drug-trafficking routes in coastal waters along the Central American isthmus.

This is the Carr’s final deployment. It is scheduled for decommissioning in March.