Coast Guard intercepts undersea vessel carrying $165M of cocaine
The U.S. Coast Guard said Tuesday that it had seized a 40-foot semi-submersible in the Eastern Pacific Ocean that was carrying 12,000 pounds of cocaine worth more than $165 million earlier this month. The crew of the Florida-based cutter Valiant was directed to intercept the “narco sub” after it was detected and monitored by a patrol aircraft, the Coast Guard in a statement Tuesday.
The #Florida @USCG Cutter Valiant took down a narco sub carrying 12k lbs of cocaine in the #EasternPacific, cutting approximately $165 mil from smuggler pockets.
More info and photos here: https://t.co/mSb28nTIzF pic.twitter.com/hS5kRVtV3f
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) September 24, 2019
Two small boats with boarding teams were launched from the Valiant to take down the sub in the early morning with assistance from Colombian naval assets. Four suspected drug smugglers were also apprehended.
The exact location of where the boat was intercepted was not revealed.
“There are no words to describe the feeling Valiant crew is experiencing right now,” said Cmdr. Matthew Waldron, Valiant’s Commanding Officer. – READ MORE