Coast Guard Offloads 14,000 Pounds of Marijuana and 3,660 Pounds of Cocaine at Port Everglades

MIAMI — The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Bear (WMEC-901) offloaded about 14,000 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated $12.5 million wholesale and 3,660 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $50 million on April 18 at Port Everglades, the Coast Guard 7th District said in a release.

The drugs were interdicted off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America and represent five separate, suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions:

• The Coast Guard Cutter Bear was responsible for two cases, seizing about 7,900 pounds of marijuana and 300 pounds of cocaine.

• The Coast Guard Cutter Valiant (WMEC-621) was responsible for one case, seizing about 2,700 pounds of cocaine.

• The USS Tornado (PC-14) with a Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team was responsible for two cases, seizing 6,100 pounds of marijuana and 660 pounds of cocaine.

“I could not be prouder of this crew’s accomplishments, and of the entire interagency and allied team that continue to stand the watch in an effort to stem the efforts of smugglers that seek to destabilize the Western hemisphere while they line their pockets,” said Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Dennelly, executive officer of Coast Guard Cutter Bear.

“It is through successful interdictions, such as the ones we are offloading today, that impact these criminal organizations, regardless of the product they are smuggling. It is certainly a team effort with contributions by our Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations partners, Department of Defense and other DHS partners that make todays offload possible.”

The cutter Bear is a 270-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia. The cutter Valiant is a 210-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Jacksonville, Florida. The USS Tornado is a 179-foot Cyclone-class patrol ship.

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