MIAMI, Fla., Oct. 4--Two small boats from the Charleston, S.C. - based Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin work to recover approximately 4,000 pounds of cocaine dumped by a fleeing smuggling go-fast after it was intercepted by the cutter and its embarked MH-68 Sting Ray helicopter from the Jacksonville, Fla. based Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron. Four suspected smugglers are also in Coast Guard custody. USCG photo by PA2 Donnie Brzuska
COAST GUARD STARTS NEW YEAR WITH A BANG
4,000 lbs of cocaine seized in the Caribbean
**PHOTOS AVAILABLE**
MIAMI - Crews from the Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin and Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron made a 4,000-pound cocaine bust Saturday afternoon, in the Colombian basin and detained four suspect smugglers from a go-fast vessel.
This bust is the first one of the new fiscal year, which began Oct. 1 and follows a record shattering year in FY 2004 with more than 240,000 pounds of cocaine seized in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean.
The 40-foot drug-smuggling go-fast was spotted by Gallatin’s embarked MH-68 Sting Ray helicopter crew in international waters Saturday at about 4:45 p.m. As soon as the crew aboard the go-fast knew they had been spotted, they began throwing bales overboard and a chase ensued.
The helicopter’s crew gave the go-fast multiple visual and verbal warnings to stop, but they were ignored. At about 5:30, the Sting Ray was given permission to fire warning shots and disabling fire and safely disabled all three outboard engines on the go-fast.
A boarding team from Gallatin was deployed in its over-the-horizon pursuit boat. Once on scene with the go-fast, they attempted to establish the nationality of the vessel, but the suspected smugglers would not provide one. As a result, the vessel was determined to be stateless and subject to U.S. jurisdiction. A boarding commenced and the four men were eventually taken into Coast Guard custody.
The crew of the Gallatin recovered 68 of the bales dumped by the smugglers, each weighing between 50 and 75 pounds, which tested positive for cocaine.
