Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk crew returns home following 3-month patrol, seizes more than 13 tons of cocaine

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 04/22/2017 10:37 AM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

April 22, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast
Contact: 7th District Public Affairs
Office: (305) 415-6683
After Hours: (786) 367-7649

Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk crew returns home following 3-month patrol, seizes more than 13 tons of cocaine

 

The Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk pulls into port April 22, 2017, in Key West, Florida, following a three-month patrol in the Eastern Pacific. Coast Guard Capt. Craig J. Wieschhorster, commanding officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk, greets his family on the pier April 22, 2017, in Key West, Florida, following a three-month patrol in the Eastern Pacific. Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk crew members carry shore power cable onto the pier April 22, 2017, in Key West, Florida, following a three-month patrol in the Eastern Pacific.
Smugglers jettison bales of contraband from a go-fast vessel in the Eastern Pacific in April, 2017, before being interdicted by the Coast Guard Cutter A view of seized cocaine on the fantail of the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk during an Eastern Pacific patrol in March, 2017. Boarding team members from the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk interdict suspected smugglers in the Eastern Pacific in February, 2017.

MIAMI – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk returned home Saturday to Key West following a three-month counter-drug patrol in the Pacific Ocean.

During the patrol the Mohawk's crew interdicted 14 vessels that were smuggling illegal narcotics, detained 41 suspected smugglers for prosecution in U.S. Federal or partner-nation courts and seized approximately 12,000 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value of over $390 million.

The Mohawk’s crew partnered with units from multiple U.S. agencies and allied nations to conduct counter drug operations in support of the Eleventh Coast Guard District and the Key West-based Joint Interagency Task Force South.

To extend operational range and increase mission effectiveness the Mohawk embarked MH-65 Dolphin helicopters from the Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron. On one occasion during the deployment the Mohawk interdicted four vessels in less than 36 hours.

The cooperative efforts of foreign military and law enforcement personnel and U.S. government inter-agency partners detect, disrupt and interdict illegal narcotics smuggling ventures in the Eastern Pacific. These activities support the rule of law in Central America and promote stability in the region.

After returning home, the crew will prepare Mohawk to return to sea in execution of all Coast Guard missions.

Mohawk is the 13th and last of the 270-foot Famous class cutters. Since its commissioning in March 1991, the cutter serves the nation in a wide variety of Coast Guard missions including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, alien migrant interdiction operations, defense readiness, and homeland security operations.

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-USCG-