Coast Guard busts narco-sub smuggling 12,000 pounds of cocaine worth $165M

Yesterday, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) reported that their Coast Guard Cutter “Valiant” crew intercepted a drug-filled, 40-foot self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.  While on routine patrol, the Valiant’s crew intercepted and captured the semi-submersible in international waters.  The “narco-sub” was carrying approximately 12,000 pounds of cocaine, worth over $165 million. 

The USCG Valiant crew also arrested the four suspected drug smugglers they discovered on board the sub. The massive cocaine bust and narco-sub seizure went down in an undisclosed location in the Eastern Pacific on September 5, according to MSN.

The semi-submersible was originally detected and monitored by maritime patrol aircraft (MPA);  and the Valiant crew was diverted by Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-S) to intercept the semi-submersible, arriving after sunset. The Valiant crew launched two small boats with boarding teams made up of Valiant crew and two members of the Coast Guard Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team, successfully interdicting the semi-submersible in the early morning hours, who subsequently led and conducted a full law enforcement boarding with the assistance of Colombian Naval assets that arrived on scene shortly after.

Slightly more than 1,200 pounds of cocaine were recovered and offloaded to the Valiant during the operation.

According to Valiant’s commanding officer, the interdiction of the narco-sub coincided with a time-honored mariner’s milestone and tradition of crossing the equator which made both events even more meaningful part of the ship’s patrol.

“There are no words to describe the feeling Valiant crew is experiencing right now,” said Cmdr. Matthew Waldron, Valiant’s Commanding Officer.

“In a 24-hour period, the crew both crossed the equator and intercepted a drug-laden self-propelled semi-submersible vessel. Each in and of themselves is momentous events in any cutterman’s career. Taken together, however, it is truly remarkably unprecedented This interdiction was an all-hands-on-deck evolution, and each crew member performed above and beyond the call of duty. Additionally, we could not have successfully completed this interdiction without the love and support of our families back home, many of whom evacuated from Jacksonville this week for Hurricane Dorian. To the Valiant families, a heartfelt ‘Thank You!’”

The Valiant is a multi-mission 210-foot Medium-Endurance Cutter that was commissioned in 1967. Her missions include search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, marine environmental protection, homeland security, and national defense operations.

For more on the story, see the video accompanying this article.

(Source:  United States Coast Guard)

~ Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today / Connect with Richard on Facebook and Twitter