MIAMI – U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Venturous’ crew offloaded approximately 5,300 pounds of cocaine and marijuana worth an estimated $14.1 million, Friday, at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach.
The seized contraband was the result of four interdictions in the Caribbean Sea by the crews of USCGC Diligence and HNLMS Groningen with an embarked Coast Guard law enforcement detachment.
“Stopping harmful and illicit narcotics from reaching our shores and entering our communities is a team effort,” said Cmdr. Karen Kutkiewicz, Venturous’ commanding officer. “It takes the combined efforts of our joint force DoD, DHS, and international partners to combat transnational criminal organizations.”
The following assets and crews were involved in the interdiction operations:
Detecting and interdicting illicit drug traffickers on the high seas involves significant interagency and international coordination. Joint Interagency Task Force-South, in Key West, conducts the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs. Once an interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the U.S. Coast Guard for the interdiction and apprehension phases. Interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Seventh Coast Guard District, headquartered in Miami.
Read more about the Groningen crew’s interdictions: Royal Netherlands Navy intercepts 3 drug shipments in one week.
USCGC Venturous is a 210-foot Reliance-class medium endurance cutter homeported in St. Petersburg under U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Command.
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