Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma seizes more than 450 lbs of marijuana

MIAMI — The Coast Guard interdicted more than 450 pounds of marijuana from a go-fast vessel southwest of Cuba, Dec. 4.

A Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen, Puerto Rico, MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew spotted the go-fast vessel in international waters off Cuba and provided the location to the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Tahoma.

The Tahoma launched a smallboat crew to stop the go-fast vessel. After the go-fast vessel crew failed to obey orders to heave to, the Tahoma smallboat crew fired a series of warning shots across the go-fast vessel’s bow.

The go-fast vessel stopped in international waters southwest of Punta Maisi, Cuba.

Forty-two packages of marijuana were recovered from the water in the vicinity of the stopped go-fast vessel.

The contraband and four suspected smugglers were transferred to authorities in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.