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Hollywood, FL - The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded nearly 19,055 pounds of illegal narcotics, worth an estimated $140.9 million, at Port Everglades following a series of high-seas drug interdictions.
The haul included both cocaine and marijuana seized during five separate operations conducted between April 12th and May 7th in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.
The drugs were intercepted by the crew of the USCG Cutter Calhoun in international waters off the coasts of Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and near the Canary Islands.
Officials say the seizures are part of ongoing efforts to dismantle international drug networks.
According to a Coast Guard news release, the criminal investigations tied to these operations are allegedly connected to several transnational criminal organizations, including Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan-based group recently designated as a foreign terrorist organization.
One of the largest busts occurred near the Canary Islands, where officials discovered roughly 10,000 pounds of cocaine on board a suspicious fishing vessel.
Additional interdictions yielded thousands more pounds of narcotics, all of which were transferred to Port Everglades for offloading.
“This is a testament to the dedication of our crew and interagency partners,” said Capt. Matthew Hammond, commanding officer of the Calhoun. “Our mission is to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs before they reach the U.S., and protect our communities from the violence and instability these criminal networks create.”
The drugs are now in federal custody, and investigations remain ongoing.