Portal partners
US Coast Guard thwarts smuggling 13 tons of cocaine
Author:Mariusz Dasiewicz
Nearly 13 tonnes of black market cocaine over $211 million – so much drugs were secured by the U.S. patrol vessel USCGC Thetis (910) during recent activities in the waters of the Eastern Pacific.
In the article
On Thursday, the unit entered the Port Everglades, completing activities that resulted in the suppression of four attempts to smuggle cocaine. The operation has been carried out with the support of the MH-65 helicopter crew Dolphin from the HITRON (Helicopter Intervention Tactical Squadron) squadron of Jacksonville.
Every kilo of cocaine is a real life. Our crew has once again proven that even an older unit, with appropriate training and determination, can successfully carry out such complex tasks.
kmdr Ryan Kelley, USCGC Commander Thetis
Four thwarted transports in less than two weeks
The takeover occurred between 3 and 10 May:
- 3 May – 170 nautical miles west of Mexico, two suspicious units were intercepted aboard which were approximately 2.1 tons of cocaine. Some of the cargo was transferred to the Ecuadorian side.
- 5 May "At a distance of 475 nautical miles southwest of Colima, nearly 4.5 tonnes of drift cocaine were secured.
- 6 May – HITRON helicopter detected further balls thrown by smugglers. In total, 6.6 tonnes of drugs were secured.
- 10 May – About 660 miles south of Acapulco, another 1.8 tons of cocaine were recovered.
In total, over 12.9 tons of drugs were seized. The cocaine balls were deployed over long distances, indicating the scale and complexity of the smuggling operation.
Joint US services
The operation was conducted in close cooperation with Joint Interaction Task Force-South (JIATF-S), responsible for detection and monitoring of illegal maritime transit. At the time of the decision to intercept, US Coast Guard units take control of the activities – in this case subject to 11. USCG District based in Alameda.
These actions are also part of a broader strategy to fight organised crime within the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF), which coordinates intelligence and enforcement activities against the largest cartel structures.
Thetis – unit still effective
USCGC Thetis (WMEC-910) is a Famous patrol boat measuring 82 metres long, with a displacement of 1829 tonnes and operating range of up to 9900 nautical miles. Inducted into service on June 30, 1989, and based in Key West, Florida, despite the passage of years remains an important element of US Coast Guard's operational forces. Thanks to an experienced crew and reliable construction, the unit successfully performs patrol, anti-drug and rescue tasks, confirming that the professionalism of seafarers can effectively offset the limitations of the ship's age.
Source: US Coast Guard
