The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James has returned to Florida from a patrol that saw them seize more than 44,550 pounds of Mexican Cartel cocaine and 3,880 pounds of Mexican Cartel marijuana worth about $510 million. US Attorney General Pam Biondi says the seizures represent more than half a billion dollars of lost profits by the Gulf Cartel (CDG), the Sinaloa Cartel (CDS), and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
These massive seizures resulted from 11 interdictions of cartel smuggling vessels and the arrests of 34 cartel drug traffickers in the Pacific Ocean off Ecuador, Peru, and Costa Rica who now face federal prosecution.
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter James used additional "eyes in the sky" from a drone, a Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) aircrew assigned to the ship, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Air and Marine Operations aircrews during its successful patrol, along with assistance from the US Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk.
During one 72-hour period alone, the crew of the James intercepted seven separate smuggling boats, resulting in the seizure of 24,000 pounds of Mexican Cartel cocaine and the arrests of 15 Mexican Cartel smugglers.
"We delivered a substantial blow to narco-terrorism organizations, sending those attempting to bring drugs to our border to face federal prosecution, halting the profits criminals use to fuel the fentanyl trade, and most importantly, preventing deadly contraband from reaching American communities and families," - Capt. Thomas Rodzewicz, Commanding Officer, US Coast Guard Cutter James
“This is a key example of the Department of Justice working with our law enforcement partners to fight crime and keep drugs from flowing into America,” said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. “Thanks to the incredible work of the Coast Guard and FBI, these drugs will help lock up criminals instead of ruining lives.”
Meanwhile, US Federal Law Enforcement Officers are continuing to deprive Mexican Cartels of their massive drug profits by seizing even more of their drugs at sea. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) says one of its P-3 Patrol Aircraft just helped seize another cartel smuggling vessel carrying 3,644 pounds of Cartel Cocaine worth more than $1.6 million and the arrests of seven more cartel smugglers.
What sort of impact do you think these huge seizures are having on Mexico's Cartels?
Share your opinion in the comments to this article.
Abrazos,
Jack Beavers
Hey, it’s a start!
Well done, guys.
Sure as hell would hope that they were carrying them at the time of that picture