Coast Guard Cutter Resolute crewmembers stand next to approximately 1 ton of marijuana worth an estimated $2.2 million wholesale value, in St. Petersburg, Florida, Tuesday, May 8, 2018. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson)
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute offloaded approximately 1 ton of marijuana Tuesday in St. Petersburg worth an estimated $2.2 million total wholesale seized during a 71-day deployment in international waters in the Caribbean Sea.
On March 17, Resolute crewmembers, with the assistance of a Customs and Border Protection aircraft crew, interdicted two suspected drug smuggling vessels carrying a combined total of 2,600 pounds of marijuana and detained seven suspected drug smugglers as part of Operation Riptide.
“By working hand-in-hand with DHS partners and the nation of Jamaica, we were able to efficiently interdict the 2,600 pounds of marijuana seen on the pier today,” said Cmdr. Carmen DeGeorge, the Resolute’s commanding officer. “Today’s offload represents the ongoing commitment of U.S. and international partners to combat transnational criminal networks and promote stability across the Caribbean region.”
Resolute is a 210-foot Reliance-class cutter, homeported in St. Petersburg and has a crew of 81.
