Coast Guard interdicts 4,000 pounds of cocaine, 940 pounds of marijuana from 2 go-fast vessels

MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Dallas, homeported in Charleston, S.C., interdicted approximately 4,000 pounds of cocaine and 940 pounds of marijuana during two separate cases while patrolling the Caribbean Sea.

While conducting a patrol, Dallas crewmembers located a 40-foot go-fast vessel north of Hobbies Cays, Honduras, Dec. 22. Dallas crewmembers witnessed personnel aboard the go-fast jettison multiple bales into the water. Dallas crewmembers retrieved 77 individually wrapped packages that tested positive for cocaine. The cocaine weighed approximately 4,000 pounds and has an estimated street value of $48 million.

The four detainees were transferred to federal law enforcement officials at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

On Dec. 31, Dallas crewmembers located a go-fast vessel southwest of Jamaica. The Dallas crew launched their smallboat to stop the vessel in order for boarding team crewmembers to conduct a Right of Visit boarding in accordance with international law.

The boarding team witnessed personnel aboard the go-fast jettison multiple bales into the water. The boarding team recovered 16 packages testing positive for marijuana.

The Dallas crew was able to detain three suspected smugglers aboard the vessel and prevent the trafficking of 940 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $852,000.

The three detainees were transferred to Jamaican Defense Force officials.

The contraband from both cases were offloaded at Coast Guard Sector Key West, Fla., Wednesday.