Officials said that a U.S. Coast Guard vessel, which lost a member of its crew while operating in the Eastern Pacific Ocean , offloaded more than 37,000 pounds of cocaine Thursday.
From December to February, the U.S. Coast Guard Waesche was stationed on the Eastern Pacific Ocean to intercept suspected drug smuggling ships off the coasts Mexico, Central America, and South America. The Coast Guard reported that “significant narcotics” are trafficked in the region.
The massive haul of drugs was the result of 11 interceptions made by the ship during its two-month stay. In a press release, the Coast Guard stated that the cocaine was estimated to be worth more than $275,000,000.
Capt. Scofield said, “The Waesche Crew faced numerous challenges on this patrol. They overcame the most difficult adversities but still managed to make 11 successful drug interceptions.” Tyson Scofield announced the haul in a press release. Their dedication, strength and resilience were key to the success of the mission. They prevented over $275,000,000 worth of illicit narcotics reaching the United States, protecting our communities against the devastating effects transnational crime.
The Coast Guard reported Seaman Bryan K. Lee as missing on Tuesday, February 4, the week prior to the ship’s arrival in San Diego. The Waesche crew, along with other responding assets such as multiple Air Force aircrafts, two Mexican navy ships and an unmanned aerial vehicle, searched for more than 19,000 nautical miles over a period of nearly 190 combined hours.
In a press release, the Coast Guard stated that Lee had gone missing while the cutter was conducting a routine anti-drug patrol about 300 nautical mile south of Mexico. The Coast Guard diverted from its patrol to look for Lee.
The Coast Guard stated that the anti-drug patrols were part of an effort by multiple agencies to combat organized crime. The Coast Guard said that stopping the flow of drugs in the Eastern Pacific Ocean requires a coordinated effort at all levels, from detection and monitoring to interdictions and criminal prosecutions. The Coast Guard stated that the Attorneys’ offices in district across the country.
