The crew of the United States Coast Guard, Cutter Thetis seized more than $99 million worth of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea.
Last Friday, approximately 5,237 pounds of the illegal narcotic were unloaded at the United States Coast Guard (USCG) Base Miami Beach.
“Interdicting drug traffickers on the open ocean is challenging work, and every interdiction is complex and unique,” said Cmdr. Justin Nadolny, Thetis’ commanding officer.
The offload, according to Nadolny, is a testament to the teamwork and dedication of every crew assigned to carry out the mission, as well as the strength of the valuable international partnerships united to combat transnational organized crime.
“The fight against drug cartels in the Caribbean Sea requires unity of effort in all phases from detection, monitoring, and interdictions, to criminal prosecutions by international partners and US Attorneys’ Offices in districts across the nation.”
The Thetis, a 270-foot Famous-class medium endurance cutter, is based in Key West, and patrols the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico carrying out counter-drug and migrant interdiction operations, search and rescue, and fisheries enforcement.