Editor's Note: Media are asked to RSVP by no later than 7 a.m., Wednesday, with the Coast Guard Southeast District Public Affairs Office at 305-202-3735 or by emailing Southeastpublicaffairs@gmail.com in order to be authorized access to the Port Everglades facility. Interested media are requested to arrive by 8 a.m., Wednesday, with media credentials, a valid driver's license and proof of insurance to be processed through port security.
MIAMI — The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to hold a press briefing, Wednesday, highlighting the offload of over 49,000 pounds of illicit cocaine worth more than $362 million at Port Everglades.
The offload is the result of 15 separate interdictions by the crews of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stone, with an embarked Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron aircrews and Tactical Law Enforcement Team-Pacific law enforcement detachment, and with the assistance of partner agencies during operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
WHO:
WHAT: Participating members will comment on and provide context for the Coast Guard’s maritime security and joint drug interdiction mission efforts to keep $362 million worth of illicit narcotics from reaching the United States.
WHERE: Berth 22, Port Everglades - 1800 SE 20th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. The seaport can be accessed by:
Main entrance. Take I-595 East straight into the port (I-595 become Eller Drive once inside the Port). I-595 runs east/west with connections to the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, U.S.1, I-95, State Road 7 (441), Florida's Turnpike, Sawgrass Expressway and I-75.
Note: Due to anticipated traffic associated with the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, media are encouraged to use the entrances at U.S. 1/State Road 84 and I-595 Eller Drive, to avoid the SE 17th Street Causeway entrance.
North entrance. Take U.S.1 or A1A to 17th Street Causeway in Fort Lauderdale and turn south at the streetlight onto Eisenhower Blvd. US1/Federal Highway entrance. At the intersection of State Road 84 East and U.S.1 (Federal Hwy.), turn east into the seaport.
WHEN: Wednesday, 9 a.m., Nov. 19.
Coast Guard imagery and b-roll of the drug offload will be published in a multimedia release after the press briefing.
USCGC Stone is a 418-foot national security cutter homeported in Charleston, South Carolina.
Visit our DVIDS page for imagery and our Newsroom for press releases. For breaking news, follow us on X (formerly Twitter). For additional information, find us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram.
Additional Links:
DVIDS page for operational imagery: DVIDS - U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District (dvidshub.net)
Newsroom for press releases: U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District (newsroom)
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stone (webpage), U.S. Southern Command (webpage) and Joint Interagency Task Force-South (webpage)
Social Media:
Follow USCGC Stone: @USCGCStone
Follow SED on Facebook: @USCoastGuardSoutheast; X (formerly Twitter): @USCGSoutheast; and Instagram: @uscgsoutheast
Follow SWD on Facebook: @USCGPacificSouthwest; X: @USCGNorCal / @USCGSoCal; and Instagram: @uscgpacificsw
Follow LANTAREA on Facebook: @USCoastGuardAtlanticArea; X: @USCGLANTAREA; and Instagram: @uscglantarea
-USCG-