The US Coast Guard has offloaded more than 16,320 kilograms of cocaine seized during a counter-drug patrol in international waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The contraband offloaded by the Coast Guard Cutter Bertholf's crew at San Diego represents 17 interdictions of suspected smuggling vessels off the coasts of Central and South America by five Coast Guard cutters between early February and early March.
They included Venturous, one case, 1,304kg, Bear, three cases, 4,089kg, Diligence, three cases, 1,769kg, Bertholf, four cases, 2,314kg and Harriet Lane, six cases, 7,000kg.
The Coast Guard has increased its presence in the eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Basin, which are known drug-transit zones of Central and South America.
During at-sea interdictions in international waters, a suspect vessel is located and tracked by US and allied military or law enforcement personnel. The interdictions, including the boarding, are conducted by Coast Guard members.
