U.S. Coast Guard crews seized roughly 3,715 pounds of cocaine from a suspected smuggling boat last week, estimating the haul at about $28 million.
According to a news release, the seizure happened Tuesday about two miles east of Government Cut, the channel separating Miami Beach from Fisher Island. Coast Guard officials say it was the largest cocaine seizure by a small-boat station in the Miami Beach area since 1995.
Personnel from Coast Guard Station Miami Beach, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations, and Homeland Security Investigations were involved in the operation.
“Protecting our maritime borders from illicit drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations remains one of our highest priorities,” Lt. Matthew Ross, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Miami Beach, said in the release. He added that federal, state and local partners are “vigilant” in stopping narcotics before they reach communities.
After the vessel was brought to the station’s pier, search teams located more than 1,000 concealed packages of cocaine. Federal agents arrested the three individuals who were on board.
Andy Blanco, executive director of CBP’s Air and Marine Operations Southeast Region, said the interdiction reflects coordinated law enforcement. “Smugglers should be warned that our whole-of-government team is watching, and they will be caught,” he said.
