Photo Release: Coast Guard Cutter Spencer returns to Boston following 3-month counter narcotic patrol, international Arctic exercise

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 11/21/2017 03:31 PM EST

united states coast guard 

News Release  

Nov. 21, 2017
U.S. Coast Guard 1st District Northeast
Contact: 1st District Public Affairs
Office: (617) 223-8515
After Hours: (617) 717-9609

Coast Guard Cutter Spencer returns to Boston following 3-month counter narcotic patrol, international Arctic exercise

 

    Josefina Cunningham, 8, welcomes the Coast Guard Cutter Spencer home to Boston, Tuesday, November 21, 2017 following the cutter's highly successful 90-day patrol fighting transnational organized crime networks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and training for multi-national search and rescue response in the Arctic. The Spencer's crew is looking forward to spending time with their family and friends over the holidays while preparing for their next deployment. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Cynthia Oldham.  Family members welcome the Coast Guard Cutter Spencer crew home in Boston, Tuesday, November 21, 2017 following a highly successful 90-day patrol fighting transnational organized crime networks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and training for multi-national search and rescue response in the Arctic. The crew is looking forward to spending time with their family and friends over the holidays while preparing for their next deployment. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Cynthia Oldham.  Family members welcome the Coast Guard Cutter Spencer crew home to Boston, Tuesday, November 21, 2017 following the cutter's highly successful 90-day patrol fighting transnational organized crime networks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and training for multi-national search and rescue response in the Arctic. The crew is looking forward to spending time with their family and friends over the holidays while preparing for their next deployment. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Cynthia Oldham.  The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Spencer stands next to approximately 10 tons of seized contraband prior to disposition at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. The fight against transnational organized crime networks in the Eastern Pacific requires unity of effort in all phases from detection, monitoring and interdictions, to prosecution. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Third Class Brandon Murray  A U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Spencer boatcrew interdicts a self-propelled semi submersible vessel during the ship’s counter narcotics patrol. The fight against transnational organized crime networks in the Eastern Pacific requires unity of effort in all phases from detection, monitoring and interdictions, to prosecution. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Second Class Timothy Midas.  Seized contraband being temporarily held on Coast Guard Cutter Spencer’s fantail prior to disposition at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2017. The fight against transnational organized crime networks in the Eastern Pacific requires unity of effort in all phases from detection, monitoring and interdictions, to prosecution. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer Third Class Brandon Murray.

Editors' Note: Click on images to download high resolution version.

BOSTON — The Coast Guard Cutter Spencer returned home to Boston Tuesday following a highly successful 90-day patrol fighting transnational organized crime networks in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, and training for multi-national search and rescue response in the Arctic.

The crew’s patrol efforts resulted in the interdiction of four drug-laden vessels, the seizure of more than 7,000 pounds of cocaine worth more than $110 million dollars, and the apprehension of twelve suspected smugglers.

 

Last week, the crew offloaded approximately 10 tons of cocaine and 23 kilograms of heroin in Port Everglades, Florida, worth an estimated $300 million wholesale. The drugs were interdicted along Mexico and Central America by multiple U.S. Coast Guard cutters.

 

"While this offload represents approximately 10 tons of illicit drugs that will never hit out streets, it also represents a significant depletion to the cash flow to these criminal organizations," said Cdr. John Mctamney, Commanding Officer Coast Guard Cutter Spencer.

 

Mctamney said the offload is not just the result of their crew's work, but the combined efforts of multiple Coast Guard cutters, aircraft and support, as well as that of our partners and allied men and women who continue to work day and night to stop these criminal organizations from profiting off transnational crime and smuggling.

 

During their patrol, the Spencer’s crew also participated in the 2017 Arctic Guardian Search and Rescue (SAR) Exercise in Reyjkavik, Iceland. The full-scale, underway exercise included participation by eight Arctic nations working to hone best practices for potential multi-national search and rescue response in the Arctic region.

 

The cutter Spencer is a 270-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Boston with a crew complement of 13 officers and 87 enlisted personnel.

 

 

-USCG-