Home » Home » Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant Returns to Cape Canaveral After 52-day Caribbean Counter-Drug Patrol

Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant Returns to Cape Canaveral After 52-day Caribbean Counter-Drug Patrol

By  //  March 11, 2021

discovered 1,900 pounds of cocaine hidden inside 70-foot vessel

The Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant and crew returned to Cape Canaveral following a 52-day counter-drug patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. (U.S. Coast Guard image)

(U.S. COAST GUARD) – The Coast Guard Cutter Vigilant and crew returned to Cape Canaveral following a 52-day counter-drug patrol in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

During their patrol in the Pacific, Vigilant’s crew worked with several U.S. and partner nation assets, including Panama’s National Aeronaval Service (SENAN), Costa Rica’s drug enforcement agency, a U.S. Navy Warship, and three Coast Guard cutters.

Vigilant’s crew participated in a two-day multi-domain enhanced counternarcotic subject matter exchange with SENAN, demonstrating and practicing procedures for stopping drug smuggling vessels and medical evacuations.

This promoted regional stability, economic prosperity, and security through collaborative engagement.

The Vigilant’s crew interdicted a 70-foot fishing vessel suspected of drug smuggling.

The cutter’s crew discovered 1,900 pounds of cocaine hidden in the vessel’s fuel tanks with an estimated wholesale value of $26 million. (U.S. Coast Guard image)

The cutter’s crew discovered 1,900 pounds of cocaine hidden in the vessel’s fuel tanks with an estimated wholesale value of $26 million.

During the course of the patrol, over 45 suspected narco-traffickers crossed Vigilant’s deck from 13 different interdictions executed by various Coast Guard cutters and Navy ships.

“Our crew did an exceptional job providing care and security for so many detainees, especially with the additional challenges created by COVID,” said Cmdr. Fred S. Bertsch, commanding officer of Vigilant.

The fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea requires unity of effort in all phases from detection, monitoring, and interdictions, to criminal prosecutions for these interdictions by United States Attorney’s Offices from the Middle District of Florida and the Southern District of Florida and the Southern District of California.

The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean is conducted under the authority of the 11th Coast Guard District, headquartered in Alameda. (U.S. Coast Guard image)

The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean is conducted under the authority of the 11th Coast Guard District, headquartered in Alameda.

The interdictions, including the actual boardings, are led and conducted by members of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The Vigilant is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Cape Canaveral.

The cutter’s primary mission includes search and rescue, illegal drug interdictions, alien migrant interdictions ensuring the safety of life at sea, and enforcing international and domestic maritime laws.

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