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USCGC Hamilton offloads approximately $504 million drugs at Port Everglades

Photo By Petty Officer 2nd Class Jose Hernandez | The Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton’s (WMSL 753) crew poses with approximately 26,250...... read more read more

MIAMI, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES

11.22.2021

Courtesy Story

U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area

MIAMI — The crew of USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753) offloaded approximately 26,250 pounds of cocaine and 3,700 pounds of marijuana worth about $504 million Monday at Port Everglades, which is the most significant drug interdiction in the ship's history.

The U.S. Coast Guard's strong international relationships with key partners like Canada, along with specialized capabilities and unmatched authorities, allow for a unity of effort to disrupt transnational criminal organizations, which threaten America and our partner nations.

These teams interdicted the drugs in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, including contraband, seized and recovered during eight interdictions of suspected drug smuggling vessels by three American and Canadian ships:

USCGC Hamilton (WMSL 753)
USCGC Vigilant (WMEC 617)
HMCS Harry DeWolf (AOPV 430)

"I could not be prouder of this crew and their determination to keep more than 26,000 pounds of cocaine from reaching the shores of Central and North America," said Capt. Matthew Brown, commanding officer of Hamilton. "It has been a dynamic two and half months for this ship with some very difficult law enforcement cases. But at the core of these capabilities is a true culture of trust and respect for each other, which enabled the safe apprehension of 14 suspected traffickers. Each one of our cases represented the teamwork and partnerships not only domestically but with our partners in the Western Hemisphere."

Numerous U.S. agencies from the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security cooperated to combat transnational organized crime.

The U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and allied and international partner agencies play a role in counter-drug operations. The fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean requires unity of effort in all phases, from detection, monitoring, and interdictions, to criminal prosecutions by U.S. Attorneys in districts across the nation.

A suspect vessel is initially detected and monitored during at-sea interdictions by allied, military, or law enforcement personnel coordinated by Joint Interagency Task Force-South based in Key West, Florida. The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific is conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 11th District, headquartered in Alameda, California. The interdictions, including the actual boardings, are led and performed by the U.S. Coast Guard members.

The Hamilton is a 418-foot Legend-class national security cutter homeported in Charleston, South Carolina. The Vigilant is a 210-foot Reliance-class medium endurance cutter homeported in Port Canaveral, Florida. Her Majesty's Canadian Ship (HMCS) Harry DeWolf is a 340-foot Arctic, and offshore patrol ship (AOPS) homeported in Halifax, Canada.

The U.S. Coast Guard national security and medium endurance vessels and the 7th District operate under the ultimate authority of the U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander located in Portsmouth, Virginia, overseeing all Coast Guard operations east of the Rocky Mountains to the Arabian Gulf.