The U.S. Coast Guard seized over 1,700 pounds of cocaine worth about $29 million dollars last week from a fishing boat in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Central America.
Coast Guard sailors worked with Costa Rican authorities on the bust after the Coast Guard spotted the boat from a helicopter flying over international waters.
Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk (WMEC-913) members conduct a boarding of the Amanda M fishing vessel in the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Central America, April 9, 2020. During the boarding, the crew discovered several false compartments where they were able to uncover 1,700 pounds of cocaine and transfer four suspected smugglers to Costa Rica for legal action. (U.S. Coast Guard photo)
The cocaine was found in hidden compartments discovered aboard the fishing vessel.
“This interdiction is a great example of what we can accomplish with strong international partners,” said Rear Adm. Peter Gautier, the 11th Coast Guard District commander. “Our Coast Guard crews performed an exhaustive boarding and search of Amanda M, recovering $29 million worth of cocaine. Our Costa Rican partners played a major role in the success of this operation which will disrupt criminal networks in the region during this major surge.”
The smugglers were handed over to the Costa Rican authorities.
“My Administration is committed to protecting the Homeland from the scourge of narco-terrorists and traffickers seeking to destabilize the United States and our Hemisphere,” President Trump tweeted in response to the bust.
My Administration is committed to protecting the Homeland from the scourge of narco-terrorists and traffickers seeking to destabilize the United States and our Hemisphere. Our military deployments in the Caribbean & Eastern Pacific will endure until these threats are neutralized! https://t.co/iOKSK1NeNf
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 14, 2020
“Our military deployments in the Caribbean & Eastern Pacific will endure until these threats are neutralized!” he added.
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