US Coast Guard offloads drugs totalling nearly 15 tonnes at Port Everglades, Florida

The US Coast Guard medium endurance cutter USCGC Tampa unloaded 3,355 pounds (1,520 kg) of marijuana and approximately 29,600 pounds (13,400 kg) of cocaine at Port Everglades, Florida, on Wednesday, October 14.

The coast guard said the drugs, valued at US$226.7 million, were seized in six interdictions in international waters of the Eastern Pacific during a 60-day patrol. Fifteen suspected smugglers were detained.

Captain Joshua DiPietro, Tampa’s commanding officer, said the cutter’s crew had encountered larger smuggling craft than in previous deployments.

"The vessels we saw this patrol were much more powerful than what I've seen the rest of my career,” said DiPietro. “Most of them averaged around 1,000 horsepower (650 kW), three to four high-power outboard engines, 35 feet (11 metres) minimum, 45 feet (14 metres) maximum, and each of them held much larger loads than we've seen in the past.”