Coast Guard Offloads More than $475M in Illegal Narcotics in Miami 

Bales of illegal drugs, worth an estimated $475 million, are offloaded onto pallets, Sept. 15, at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach, Florida. The illegal narcotics were offloaded by the crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Legare (WMEC 912). U.S. COAST GUARD / Chief Petty Officer Stephen Lehmann

MIAMI — The crew of the USCGC Legare (WMEC 912) offloaded approximately 24,700 pounds of cocaine and 3,892 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $475 million, Sept. 15, at Base Miami Beach, the Coast Guard Atlantic Area said in a release. 

The drugs were interdicted in the international waters of the Caribbean Sea and the Eastern Pacific Ocean by crews from: 

  • His Netherlands Majesty’s Ship HNLMS Groningen (P843) of the Royal Netherlands Navy and embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 101  
  • U.S. Navy ship USS Billings (LCS 15) and embarked USCG LEDET 401 
  • Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL 754) 
  • Coast Guard Cutter Legare (WMEC 912) 

“I am proud of the crew’s continued devotion to duty that made this offload possible,” said Cmdr. Jeremy M. Greenwood, commanding officer of Legare. “Through the coordinated efforts of the Legare, the LEDETs, HNLMS Groningen, CGC James, and the USS Billings crews, we significantly contributed to the counter-drug mission and the dismantling of transnational criminal organizations. The drugs seized through this coordinated effort will result in significantly fewer drug-related overdoses.” 

The fight against drug cartels in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean, and the transnational criminal organizations they are associated with, requires a unity of effort in all phases; from detection and monitoring to interdiction and apprehension, and on to criminal prosecutions by international partners and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in districts across the nation. 

The Legare is a 270-foot Famous-class medium-endurance cutter stationed in Portsmouth, Virginia. Legare’s missions include Law Enforcement, Search and Rescue, Protection of Living Marine Resources, Homeland Security and Defense Operations, international training, and humanitarian operations. Legare patrols the offshore waters from Maine to Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, the Eastern Pacific, and the Caribbean. 

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