A Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Team (LEDET) arrives on scene and detains the suspected smugglers Nov. 23, 2014. After seizing 216 kilograms of cocaine, the crew offloaded the contraband to law enforcement officials in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Nov. 25, 2014.
The crew of Her Majesty's Ship Argyll and a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Team (LEDET) recover bales of cocaine from the water after they were jettisoned by suspected smugglers south of Haiti. The crew interdicted $35 million worth of cocaine while on patrol.
Seized contraband is stacked on board Her Majesty's Ship Argyll after the bales of cocaine were recovered from the water south of Haiti. The cocaine was offloaded to law enforcement authorities.
KEY WEST, Fla. - The crew of Her Majesty's Ship Argyll offloaded 840 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated wholesale value of $27.9 million at Coast Guard Sector Key West, Florida, Saturday, and an additional 216 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated wholesale value of $7.1 million in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Tuesday.
While on a routine patrol, a Joint Interagency Taskforce South maritime patrol aircraft crew detected a go-fast vessel south of Haiti heading north at 15 knots with fuel barrels and possible contraband on board. Watchstanders from the Coast Guard 7th District Command Center directed the Argyll to intercept and conduct a boarding of the vessel. The go-fast began to jettison objects and the Argyll launched both of their smallboats. Shortly after, the go-fast vessel with four suspected smugglers aboard, became compliant and was boarded by a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement team.
The Argyll crew recovered 29 bales of contraband the suspects jettisoned into the water. All bales later tested positive for cocaine. The smuggling vessel was destroyed as a hazard to navigation.
In a separate case, the Coast Guard LEDET and crew of the Argyll teamed to seize 216 kilograms of cocaine worth an estimated wholesale value of $7.1 million after a Dutch maritime patrol aircraft detected a suspect go-fast and vectored the Argyll to the vessel's location, November 23. The go-fast vessel was stopped and two suspects were taken into custody. The contraband was offloaded in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, Tuesday.