PHOTO RELEASE: Coast Guard offloads a ton of marijuana in St. Petersburg

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 05/08/2018 10:54 AM EDT

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U.S. Coast Guard 7th District PA Detachment Tampa Bay
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Coast Guard offloads a ton of marijuana in St. Petersburg

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute, a 210-foot Reliance-class cutter, homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida, on-load a ton of marijuana Saturday, March 17, 2018 that was interdicted from two suspected drug smuggling vessels during a 71-day deployment in the Caribbean Sea. The marijuana, worth an estimated $2.2 million, was offloaded Tuesday, May 8, 2018 in St. Petersburg, Florida for disposal. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ens. Sarah Ritchie) A ton of marijuana is shown on the deck of the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute, a 210-foot Reliance-class cutter, homeported in St. Petersburg, Florida, Saturday, March 17, 2018 after an interdiction from two suspected drug smuggling vessels during a 71-day deployment in the Caribbean Sea. The marijuana, worth an estimated $2.2 million, was offloaded Tuesday, May 8, 2018 in St. Petersburg, Florida for disposal. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Ens. Sarah Ritchie)
Coast Guard Cutter Resolute crewmembers offload approximately 1 ton of marijuana worth an estimated $2.2 million wholesale value, in St. Petersburg, Florida, Tuesday, May 8, 2018. The crew aboard the 210-foot Reliance-class cutter, homeported in St. Petersburg, interdicted two suspected drug smuggling vessels and detained seven suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea with the assistance of Customs and Border Patrol as part of Operation Riptide. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson) Coast Guard Cutter Resolute crewmembers stand next to approximately 1 ton of marijuana worth an estimated $2.2 million wholesale value, in St. Petersburg, Florida, Tuesday, May 8, 2018. The crew aboard the 210-foot Reliance-class cutter, homeported in St. Petersburg, offloaded the drugs after interdicting two suspected drug smuggling vessels and detaining seven suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea with the assistance of Customs and Border Patrol as part of Operation Riptide. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson) The Coast Guard Cutter Resolute crew offloaded approximately 1 ton of marijuana worth an estimated $2.2 million wholesale value, at Sector St. Petersburg (Florida) South Moorings, Tuesday, May 8, 2018. The crew aboard the 210-foot Reliance-class cutter, homeported in St. Petersburg, interdicted two suspected drug smuggling vessels and detained seven suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea with the assistance of Customs and Border Patrol as part of Operation Riptide. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson) Coast Guard Cutter Resolute crewmembers offload approximately 1 ton of marijuana worth an estimated $2.2 million wholesale value, in St. Petersburg, Florida, Tuesday, May 8, 2018. The crew aboard the 210-foot Reliance-class cutter, homeported in St. Petersburg, interdicted two suspected drug smuggling vessels and detained seven suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea with the assistance of Customs and Border Patrol as part of Operation Riptide. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley J. Johnson)

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

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute offloaded approximately 1 ton of marijuana Tuesday in St. Petersburg worth an estimated $2.2 million total wholesale seized during a 71-day deployment in international waters in the Caribbean Sea.

On March 17, Resolute crewmembers, with the assistance of a Customs and Border Protection aircraft crew, interdicted two suspected drug smuggling vessels carrying a combined total of 2,600 pounds of marijuana and detained seven suspected drug smugglers as part of Operation Riptide.

"By working hand-in-hand with DHS partners and the nation of Jamaica, we were able to efficiently interdict the 2,600 pounds of marijuana seen on the pier today," said Cmdr. Carmen DeGeorge, the Resolute's commanding officer. "Today's offload represents the ongoing commitment of U.S. and international partners to combat transnational criminal networks and promote stability across the Caribbean region."

The Resolute crew returned from a 71-day deployment April 28. For more details about their patrol, click here. 

Resolute is a 210-foot Reliance-class cutter, homeported in St. Petersburg and has a crew of 81.

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