CORRECTION: Coast Guard interdicts 2 suspected drug smugglers, 132 pounds of cocaine

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 02/01/2019 12:40 PM EST

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U.S. Coast Guard 7th District Southeast
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Coast Guard interdicts 2 suspected drug smugglers, 132 pounds of cocaine

The 35-foot vessel, Sea Turtle, is moored at the Coast Guard Station Miami Beach Friday, Feb. 1, 2019 after the vessel was interdicted with 128 pounds of cocaine.

Coast Guard interdicts 2 suspected drug smugglers, 128 pounds of cocaine Coast Guard interdicts 2 suspected drug smugglers, 128 pounds of cocaine A Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark (WPC-1106) smallboat crew approaches a 35-foot pleasure craft Jan. 31, 2019 to conduct a boarding approximately 5 miles east of Haulover Inlet, Florida.

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MIAMI — The Coast Guard interdicted two suspected smugglers and approximately 132 pounds of cocaine Thursday 5 miles east of Haulover Inlet.

The Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark (WPC-1106) crew initially detected a westbound 35-foot pleasure craft approximately 30 miles east of Haulover Inlet. 

The Paul Clark boarding team discovered a Bahamian national, hidden under a blanket, along with approximately 132 pounds of cocaine in the vessel’s engine room. Initial background checks identified that the Bahamian individual has multiple previous narcotics smuggling convictions and an active United States arrest warrant.

“This successful interdiction is the result of a diligent boarding team who safely stopped two criminals seeking to bring contraband to the streets of South Florida,” said Capt. Megan Dean, commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami. “Our crews continue to maintain a constant presence and work daily with our DHS partner agencies to stop and stem this flow of illicit drugs and human smuggling that threaten our national security.”

The case was turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). HSI is the principle investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats. HSI special agents investigate, disrupt and dismantle terrorist, transnational and other criminal organizations that threaten or seek to exploit the customs and immigration laws of the United States.

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