IMAGERY AVAILABLE: Coast Guard, partner agencies intercept approximately 1,400 lbs of marijuana off San Diego coast

U.S. Coast Guard sent this bulletin at 08/02/2019 03:31 PM EDT

united states coast guard 

News Release  

U.S. Coast Guard 11th District Pacific Southwest
Contact: 11th District Public Affairs
Office: (510) 437-3325
After Hours: (510) 772-8865
11th District online newsroom

Coast Guard, partner agencies intercept approximately 1,400 lbs of marijuana off San Diego coast

A suspected drug-smuggling vessel lies moored in San Diego, July 26, 2019. The vessel was carrying approximately 1,400 pounds of marijuana when it was intercepted by the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Dorado with assistance from partner agency officials approximately 40 miles southwest of San Diego. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo Approximately 1,400 pounds of marijuana seized by the Coast Guard Cutter Dorado lies stacked on the dock in San Diego, July 26, 2019. The marijuana was interdicted from a 35-foot suspected smuggling vessel approximately 40 miles southwest of San Diego. (U.S. Coast Guard courtesy photo) Chief Frederick Roundy, a boatswains mate and executive petty officer aboard Coast Guard Cutter Dorado, places a crossed-out marijuana decal, which signifies a marijuana seizer, along the side of the cutter, August 1, 2019. The crew was awarded their first marijuana interdiction decal after intercepting approximately 1,488 pounds of marijuana off the coast of San Diego. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jordan Akiyama) The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Dorado celebrates the addition of a crossed-out marijuana decal, which signifies a marijuana seizer, at Coast Guard Sector San Francisco, August 1, 2019. The crew was awarded their first marijuana interdiction decal after intercepting approximately 1,488 pounds of marijuana off the coast of San Diego. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jordan Akiyama)

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

SAN DIEGO — Agencies from the Department of Homeland Security detected and interdicted a suspected smuggling boat carrying approximately 1,400 pounds of marijuana approximately 40 miles southwest of San Diego, July 25.

Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations crews notified San Diego’s Joint Harbor Operations Center  watchstanders of suspected smuggling activity aboard a 35-foot vessel at approximately 7 p.m. JHOC watchstanders diverted the crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Dorado (WPB-87306) that was conducting a routine counter-smuggling patrol in the area.

Dorado arrived on scene at approximately 10:30 p.m. after being vectored in by CBP AMO crews. The Dorado crew launched their interceptor boat with a boarding team that discovered approximately 1,400 pounds of marijuana aboard the suspicious vessel. Two suspected smugglers were detained.

Dorado’s crew transported the marijuana and suspected smugglers to San Diego where CBP’s AMO crew took custody of the suspected smuggling vessel and Homeland Security Investigation’s Marine Task Force took custody of the suspected smugglers and contraband.

"The crew of Dorado had a very successful mission while patrolling the waters off the coast of San Diego and we at the district headquarters could not be prouder of them," said Capt. Arthur Snyder, 11th Coast Guard District chief of response. "The Dorado has demonstrated they are capable of executing a wide range of missions, whether it is enforcing fishing regulations off the California, Oregon border, interdicting drugs off the California, Mexico border or saving lives anywhere in between, they are ready to serve the American public."

The Regional Coordinating Mechanism is another example of the evolution of joint operations among interagency partners. Located in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco, the ReCoM partnerships include the U.S. Coast Guard, CBP’s Office of Air and Marine, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Border Patrol and ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations in cooperation with state and local law enforcement partners operating along the California coast.

Dorado is an 87-foot patrol boat homeported in Crescent City.  

-USCG-