Cutter Bear returns home after interdicting more than $140 million of illicit drugs
Coast Guard Cutter Bear personnel offloaded approximately 2,300 lbs of cocaine worth more than $43.7 million at Port Everglades in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, April 20, 2021. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Charly Tautfest)
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Bear (WMEC 901) returned home to Portsmouth Sunday following an 86-day counter-drug patrol in the Eastern Pacific...
Cutter Campbell returns to Maine after seizing $209 million cocaine
Coast Guard Cutter Campbell file photo.
BOSTON — Coast Guard Cutter Campbell returned to its homeport in Kittery, Maine, Friday after an 80-day counter-narcotic patrol in the Caribbean Sea and Eastern Pacific Ocean.
Campbell’s crew disrupted six narcotic smuggling ventures, seized about 12,000 pounds of cocaine, worth $209 million, and detained 24 suspected smugglers.
Equipped with an MH-65...
Coast Guard releases investigation report on death of suspected smuggler
ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Coast Guard has released its Major Incident Investigation (MII) Report into the death of a suspected smuggler who was killed during a law enforcement operation 195 miles north of the Galapagos Islands Aug. 30, 2016.
Javier Darwin Licoa Nunez, 35, of Ecuador, died from fatal internal injuries caused by bullet fragments after a Coast Guard precision marksman from Helicopter Interdiction...
Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton provides disaster relief to Haiti
MIAMI — The Coast Guard and Joint Task Force Matthew provided relief supplies and conducted post-storm damage assessment flights for Jeremie, Haiti, on Saturday following a direct impact to the area by Hurricane Matthew.
A Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Jacksonville MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew embarked on the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton conducted post-storm damage assessment...
Coast Guard tactical air squadron holds change of command ceremony
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Capt. Kevin P. Gavin relieved Capt. Donna L. Cottrell as commanding officer of Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Jacksonville during a change of command ceremony at HITRON Friday.
HITRON is America’s first airborne law enforcement unit trained and authorized to employ airborne use of force and intercept go-fast vessels suspected of transporting illicit...
Senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff visits Coast Guard HITRON
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Crewmembers of Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Jacksonville hosted Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan B. Battaglia, the senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during his visit to HITRON Wednesday.
During the visit, Battaglia was given a tour of the facilities, including two of the assets used at the unit.
Marine Corps Sgt. Maj. Bryan...
HITRON Milestone: $10 Billion in Interdicted Drugs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – During December 2011, the Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Jacksonville surpassed the $10 Billion mark in illegal narcotics interdictions.
Commissioned in 1998, HITRON was America’s first airborne law enforcement unit trained and authorized to employ airborne use of force (AUF) and is the Coast Guard’s only airborne unit that employs disabling fire...
Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin crew to return to Charleston, S.C., following 76-day patrol
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The crew of the 378-foot Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin is to return to their homeport of Charleston, Wednesday.
During the 76-day patrol, the Gallatin crew conducted law enforcement and supported U.S. counter-drug operations in the Caribbean Sea and Florida Straits while deployed with an aviation detachment from Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron Jacksonville,...
