Crew members from the U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Detachment 111 and a British Royal Navy team aboard HMS Trent interdict a semi-submersible vessel suspected of drug smuggling in the Caribbean Sea on August 26, 2024.
The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded more than 4,125 pounds of cocaine, worth approximately $54 million, at Port Everglades on Sept. 9. The drugs were seized during three separate operations in the Caribbean Sea. These efforts were the result of collaboration among various agencies, including the Royal Navy, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other international partners.
Eleven suspects involved in smuggling were detained and are slated for prosecution in federal courts. Lt. Matthew Carmine, the commanding officer of the USCGC Joseph Napier, commended the joint effort, emphasizing the crucial role of international cooperation in combating drug trafficking.
The military says these operations underscore the complexities of addressing drug trafficking at sea. Initial detection and monitoring were carried out by the Joint Interagency Task Force South based in Key West, Florida, with the U.S. Coast Guard leading the enforcement phase. These missions are part of a broader initiative by the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces to dismantle significant criminal organizations impacting the United States.
