By The Opinion
03 Dec 2024, 19:50 PM EST
The US Coast Guard seized more than 16,100 pounds of cocaine, equivalent in the illegal market to more than $182.8 million dollarsin the course of several operations carried out in international waters of the Pacific, the federal agency reported this Tuesday.
The crew of the Coast Guard ship Hamilton disembarked the seized drugs in Port Everglades, in southern Florida, which was intercepted over three and a half months in the Pacific Ocean, off the coasts of South and Central America. .
“I am proud of our accomplishments during this three and a half month deployment,” said Capt. Justin Cartercommanding officer of the Coast Guard cutter Hamilton.
“The exceptional crew of the Hamilton, supported by a crew from the Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Squadron, demonstrated the utmost professionalism, seamanship and airmanship in executing this important and challenging mission at sea in the service of the nation.”
Coast Guard vessels assigned to the Atlantic Area Command of this federal agency carry out operations through the Panama Canal to prevent transnational criminal organizations from accessing maritime trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the institution explained today.
During the operations, six people were arrested on suspicion of being drug traffickers and were placed at the disposal of US justice.
According to authorities in the United States, cocaine use can cause serious medical complications, such as cocaine use disorder and overdose. Besides, The adulteration of cocaine with highly potent fentanyl and other related substances is a major contributor to the increase in the number of drug overdose deaths.
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