Coast Guard offloads approximately 8.5 tons of cocaine

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast offloaded approximately 7,800 kilograms of cocaine, worth nearly $260-million wholesale, seized in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean off Central and South America at the 10th Avenue Marine Terminal, San Diego, Monday, the USCG news release said.

Crews from the cutters Steadfast and Alert interdicted the drugs from four suspected smuggling vessels between late June and mid-July. Steadfast’s crew was responsible for two interdictions totaling approximately 5,450 kilograms and Alert’s crew seized some 2,392 kilograms in two seizures.

“I continue to be impressed by the dedication and tenacity of the crews aboard our cutters and the difficult, dangerous missions they perform,” said Cmdr. Alain Balmaceda, commanding officer of the Steadfast. “Their hard work means two things. First, more than eight tons of cocaine won’t reach our streets and add to the drug-related deaths and health problems facing our nation. And second, hundreds of millions of dollars are being denied to transnational criminal organizations who spread instability, death and despair wherever they operate.”