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Largest Cocaine Offload Ever
U. S. Coast Guard
November 08, 2004
KEY WEST, Fla. - Representatives from the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense and Justice will conduct a news briefing and media availability in conjunction with the arrival of USS Curts and offload of more than 75,000 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $2.3 billion here today.
The USS Curt's offload includes cocaine from five cases, which were seized between Aug. 31 and Sept. 26 by units working with the Joint Interagency Task Force South based here, including the first and third largest seizures in U.S. Coast Guard history. A Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) embarked aboard the USS Curts made the largest discovery of more than 30,000 pounds of cocaine September 17 aboard the fishing vessel Lina Maria approximately 300 nautical miles west of the Galapagos Islands. September 23, a Coast Guard LEDET embarked aboard the USS Crommelin discovered approximately 26,775 pounds of cocaine aboard the fishing vessel San Jose approximately 650 nautical miles southwest of the Galapagos Islands.
All of these cases were made possible by intelligence developed by the investigative team of Operation Panama Express, which includes the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, the Coast Guard, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S, Navy Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-South), the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigative Division, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Sheriff's Offices from Pinellas and Sarasota Counties. Additionally, each interdiction was made possible by the professional mission execution of P-3 and C-130 long-range maritime patrol aircraft operated by Homeland Security Air and Marine Operations, the Navy and the Coast Guard.
These seizures brought the total cocaine seized by the Coast Guard during the fiscal year ending September 30 to a record 240,519 pounds, worth approximately $7.7 billion. The previous annual record of 138,393 pounds was surpassed May 29 with the seizure of 4,300 pounds of cocaine from a go-fast vessel in the Eastern Pacific.
The following details are provided on each case:
1. Go-fast vessel 1: Intercepted by USS Curts and Coast Guard LEDET 108. Approximately 1,323 lbs of cocaine in 30 bales discovered aboard the vessel approximately 300 nautical miles north of the Galapagos Islands on August 31. Five detainees transferred to federal authorities for prosecution.
2. Go-fast vessel 2: Intercepted by Coast Guard Cutter Jarvis. Approximately 4,320 lbs of cocaine in 80 bales recovered from the water. The bales were associated with go-fast Vessel 2, initially detected approximately 500 nautical miles northwest of the Galapagos Islands on September 9. No detainees were apprehended.
3. Fishing vessel Lina Maria: Intercepted by USS Curts and Coast Guard LEDET 108: Intercepted by USS Curts and Coast Guard LEDET 108. Approximately 30,720 lbs of cocaine in 600 bales discovered onboard the vessel with out nationality approximately 300 nautical miles west of Ecuador on September 13. Ten detainees transferred federal authorities for prosecution.
4. Fishing vessel San Jose: Intercepted by USS Crommelin and the Coast Guard LEDET 105. Approximately 26,775 lbs of cocaine in 525 bales discovered onboard the Belizean vessel approximately 650 nautical miles southwest of the Galapagos Islands on September 23. Eight detainees transferred to federal authorities for prosecution.
5. Fishing vessel Cielo Azul: Intercepted by USS Curts and Coast Guard LEDET 104. Approximately 12,152 lbs of cocaine in 245 bales discovered onboard the Colombian vessel approximately 550 nautical miles west of the Columbia/Ecuador border on September 26. Eight detainees transferred to federal authorities for prosecution.
Largest Cocaine Offload Ever
U. S. Coast Guard
November 08, 2004
KEY WEST, Fla. - Representatives from the Departments of Homeland Security, Defense and Justice will conduct a news briefing and media availability in conjunction with the arrival of USS Curts and offload of more than 75,000 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of more than $2.3 billion here today.
The USS Curt's offload includes cocaine from five cases, which were seized between Aug. 31 and Sept. 26 by units working with the Joint Interagency Task Force South based here, including the first and third largest seizures in U.S. Coast Guard history. A Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) embarked aboard the USS Curts made the largest discovery of more than 30,000 pounds of cocaine September 17 aboard the fishing vessel Lina Maria approximately 300 nautical miles west of the Galapagos Islands. September 23, a Coast Guard LEDET embarked aboard the USS Crommelin discovered approximately 26,775 pounds of cocaine aboard the fishing vessel San Jose approximately 650 nautical miles southwest of the Galapagos Islands.
All of these cases were made possible by intelligence developed by the investigative team of Operation Panama Express, which includes the U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida, the Coast Guard, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S, Navy Joint Interagency Task Force-South (JIATF-South), the Internal Revenue Service - Criminal Investigative Division, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Sheriff's Offices from Pinellas and Sarasota Counties. Additionally, each interdiction was made possible by the professional mission execution of P-3 and C-130 long-range maritime patrol aircraft operated by Homeland Security Air and Marine Operations, the Navy and the Coast Guard.
These seizures brought the total cocaine seized by the Coast Guard during the fiscal year ending September 30 to a record 240,519 pounds, worth approximately $7.7 billion. The previous annual record of 138,393 pounds was surpassed May 29 with the seizure of 4,300 pounds of cocaine from a go-fast vessel in the Eastern Pacific.
The following details are provided on each case:
1. Go-fast vessel 1: Intercepted by USS Curts and Coast Guard LEDET 108. Approximately 1,323 lbs of cocaine in 30 bales discovered aboard the vessel approximately 300 nautical miles north of the Galapagos Islands on August 31. Five detainees transferred to federal authorities for prosecution.
2. Go-fast vessel 2: Intercepted by Coast Guard Cutter Jarvis. Approximately 4,320 lbs of cocaine in 80 bales recovered from the water. The bales were associated with go-fast Vessel 2, initially detected approximately 500 nautical miles northwest of the Galapagos Islands on September 9. No detainees were apprehended.
3. Fishing vessel Lina Maria: Intercepted by USS Curts and Coast Guard LEDET 108: Intercepted by USS Curts and Coast Guard LEDET 108. Approximately 30,720 lbs of cocaine in 600 bales discovered onboard the vessel with out nationality approximately 300 nautical miles west of Ecuador on September 13. Ten detainees transferred federal authorities for prosecution.
4. Fishing vessel San Jose: Intercepted by USS Crommelin and the Coast Guard LEDET 105. Approximately 26,775 lbs of cocaine in 525 bales discovered onboard the Belizean vessel approximately 650 nautical miles southwest of the Galapagos Islands on September 23. Eight detainees transferred to federal authorities for prosecution.
5. Fishing vessel Cielo Azul: Intercepted by USS Curts and Coast Guard LEDET 104. Approximately 12,152 lbs of cocaine in 245 bales discovered onboard the Colombian vessel approximately 550 nautical miles west of the Columbia/Ecuador border on September 26. Eight detainees transferred to federal authorities for prosecution.
