Boston-based Coast Guard cutter seizes 4.6 tons of cocaine
A Boston-based U.S. Coast Guard cutter seized 4.6 tons of cocaine during a recent 68-day deployment to the Pacific Ocean.
After traveling through the Panama Canal, the cutter Seneca intercepted five vessels carrying cocaine from South America to the United States while “combating transnational crime” for several weeks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the Coast Guard said in a statement. The agency said one of the boats stopped was a “Low Profile Vessel” banned in the U.S. — a fully enclosed boat camouflaged to smuggle large amounts of drugs with a reduced risk of detection.
In addition to the cocaine, which officials estimated had a street value of $154 million, the Coast Guard said 15 suspected smugglers were apprehended during the patrol.
The Seneca is scheduled to return to Boston on Saturday from what was its third deployment to the Pacific this year.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com