Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf crew in front of more than 18,000 pounds of cocaine prior to Bertholf’s crew offloading the contraband in San Diego, Dec. 18, 2019. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Aidan Cooney
SAN DIEGO — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf (WMSL 750) offloaded approximately 18,000 pounds of cocaine Wednesday seized from known drug-transit zones of the Eastern Pacific Ocean worth approximately $312 million.
The interdictions were made between mid-October and early December by the joint efforts of five separate Coast Guard cutter crews:
- Coast Guard Cutter Northland (WMEC 904) was responsible for one case seizing 3,328 pounds
- Coast Guard Cutter James (WMSL 754) was responsible for one case seizing 1,609 pounds
- Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane (WMEC 903) was responsible for one case seizing 5,037 pounds
- Coast Guard Cutter Thetis (WMEC 910) was responsible for one case seizing 2,394 pounds
Bertholf was responsible for three cases seizing 5,851 pounds
“This offload demonstrates another successful example of the ‘Cycle of Justice,’ said Vice Adm. Linda L. Fagan, Coast Guard Pacific Area commander. “This cycle begins with intelligence-driven detection and monitoring of illicit activities that then cue the interdiction and apprehension of smugglers and contraband, and ultimately leads to criminal prosecution. This ‘Cycle of Justice’ disrupts a ‘Cycle of Crime,’ which left unchecked, fuels violence and instability that corrodes our Hemisphere’s social and economic fabric, and directly contributes to historically high drug-related deaths in neighborhoods across North America.”
Also in attendance for the offload was Preston Grubbs, the Principal Deputy Administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Robert Brewer, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of California.
“One of our key missions is stopping dangerous drugs before they reach our shores,” said Brewer. “Succeeding in that mission would not be possible without the tireless efforts of the United States Coast Guard.”
Numerous U.S. agencies from the Departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security cooperated in the effort to combat transnational organized crime. The Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with allied and international partner agencies, play a role in counter-drug operations. The fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific requires unity of effort in all phases from detection, monitoring and interdictions, to criminal prosecutions by U.S. Attorneys in districts across the nation.
“I am deeply proud of the work the men and women of the Bertholf have accomplished,” said Fagan. “I look at theirs as lifesaving work, and while we may never know how many lives were saved here today, this crew and all the crews involved in these interdictions should be proud of what they’ve achieved.”
Bertholf crews interdict suspected low-profile go-fast drug-smuggling vessel
