The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) will offload approximately 37,256 pounds of cocaine valued at more than $275 million in San Diego today. The haul resulted from 11 separate interdictions of suspected drug-smuggling vessels off the coasts of Mexico, Central America, and South America between December and February.
Officials including Vice Adm. Andrew J. Tiongson, Rear Admiral Joseph R. Buzzella, and Rear Admiral Jo-Ann Burdian, along with representatives from the DEA and Homeland Security Investigations, will oversee the offload at the 10th Avenue Marine Terminal.
The Coast Guard’s counter-narcotics operations target drug shipments before they reach U.S. shores. Smugglers use go-fast boats, semi-submersibles, and fishing vessels to transport multi-ton loads from South America to North America. These interdictions, conducted under Joint Interagency Task Force South, highlight the ongoing fight against transnational drug trafficking and the U.S. government’s commitment to securing maritime borders.
The original announcement can be found here.