The U.S. Coast Guard says it has seized more than 30,000 pounds and over $400 million worth of illegal drugs from drug smuggling vessels off the coasts of Central and South America.
The Coast Guard tweeted that drugs were offloaded in Port Everglades on Tuesday morning.
#BREAKINGNEWS the @USCG Cutter James is to offload more than 30,000lbs in #PortEverglades. #StayTuned pic.twitter.com/6NIpkwGjX8
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) June 9, 2020
In a statement reported by the Sun Sentinel, the Coast Guard said about 20 suspects were taken into custody as a result of their operation, which consisted of eleven seizures. Four Coast Guard cutters and two U.S. Navy ships were involved.
About 23,000 pounds of cocaine and approximately 6,900 pounds of marijuana were discovered in vessels in international waters off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean Sea.
“We continue to take the fight to the drug cartels and make an impact on these criminal organizations who spread this poison on our streets,” said Capt. Jeffrey Randall, commanding officer of the cutter James.
