Coast Guard, partner agencies participate in joint law enforcement operation

 

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 17th District Alaska Contact: 17th District Public Affairs Office: (907) 463-2065 After Hours: (907) 463-2065 17th District online newsroom

Coast Guard, partner agencies participate in joint law enforcement operation

 

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

JUNEAU, Alaska – Law enforcement authorities from the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Investigative Service, Alaska State Troopers and local police departments participated in a joint law enforcement operation to detect and deter illegal activity on Alaska Marine Highway System ferries, March 9-15.

Canine teams from Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team San Francisco (91105), MSST Seattle (91101), the Alaska State Troopers, Anchorage Airport Police and the Juneau Police Department conducted sweeps of the ferry system.  

The operation took place randomly at AMHS ferry terminals in Bellingham, Wash.; Ketchikan, Alaska; Whittier, Alaska; and Juneau over the course of the week.

During the course of the operation, authorities contacted passengers and vehicles during five ferry dockings. This resulted in the consent search of six vehicles and numerous individuals. No seizures of illicit drugs were made in Alaska by authorities and therefore no arrests or charges filed. One seizure of methamphetamine was made at the ferry terminal in Bellingham.

“The Coast Guard is committed to detecting and deterring illegal activity on Alaska’s waterways including the use or shipment of illicit drugs,” said Randy Thompson, CGIS assistant special agent-in-charge for Alaska. “We appreciate and look forward to the continued support from our partner agencies in our fight against the opioid crisis.”

CGIS, the Alaska State Troopers, and Juneau and Ketchikan Police Departments are members of the Southeast Alaska Cities Against Drugs Task Force.

Coast Guard units and partner agencies that participated:

• CG 17th District
• CG Sector Juneau
• CG Sector Anchorage
• Coast Guard Investigative Service
• Alaska State Troopers
• CG Maritime Safety and Security Team Seattle (91101)
• CG Maritime Safety and Security Team San Francisco (91105)
  
• CG Station Ketchikan
• CG Station Juneau
• Bellingham Police Department
• Juneau Police Department
• Kenai Police Department
• Whittier Police Department
  
• Anchorage Airport Police Department

-USCG-