PORTSMOUTH, Va. – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane are scheduled to return home to Portsmouth Friday following a five week patrol.
During the patrol, the cutter seized nearly 6,000 pounds of cocaine that has an estimated U.S. street value of more than $83 million.
While conducting a routine law-enforcement patrol, the crew of a Customs and Border Protection surveillance aircraft spotted the Olympiakos, a 242-foot coastal freighter, and notified the crew of the Harriet Lane. Crewmembers from the cutter intercepted the vessel, discovered the contraband, and detained 11 suspects. The contraband and detainees were turned over to U.S. law-enforcement authorities.
The Harriet Lane also assisted the sailing vessel Lazy Jack by providing its crew with fuel to return home after the vessel suffered damage to her sails and rigging due to high winds.
"I could not be more proud of the crew. This important work has saved lives, and aided in keeping dangerous drugs from reaching our streets," said Cmdr. Jay Vann, commanding officer of the Harriet Lane. "This was a rewarding patrol, but we are excited to be returning home to our families and friends for the holidays."
The Harriet Lane is a 270-foot medium endurance cutter.
Its primary missions are maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, marine environmental protection, and homeland security. The Harriet Lane operates primarily in the littoral waters of the United States and throughout the Caribbean to enforce immigration, fisheries, customs, and drug interdiction laws.
Additional information on the Harriet Lane can be found at http://www.uscg.mil/lantarea/cgcharrietlane.
