Coast Guard seizes
$40 million in drugs
An isle-based cutter recovers the
cocaine off the Mexican coast
A Honolulu-based U.S. Coast Guard cutter crew seized more than 4,300 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $40 million earlier this month, officials said yesterday.
Coast Guard officials said the 378-foot Cutter Jarvis recovered 80 bales of cocaine on Sept. 9 while on patrol in the eastern Pacific off the Mexican coast.
The bales were jettisoned from a "go-fast vessel," which was being pursued by the Coast Guard after being detected by a Navy P-3 aircraft, officials said.
According to federal drug enforcement officials, a go-fast vessel is a smuggling boat usually about 30 to 50 feet long and able to carry about a ton or more of cargo while traveling up to 35 to 50 knots.
Although the Jarvis crew marked the location of the bales in the water and continued pursuit, the unidentified go-fast vessel escaped because of "operational limitations and calm seas," said Coast Guard officials.
Backtracking after the chase was over, the Jarvis found the cocaine thanks to a life ring rigged with a radar reflector and a strobe light the crew had used to mark the bales' position in the water.
Fourteen hours later, the crew had retrieved 80 bales of cocaine, totaling 4,387 pounds.
The Jarvis, which has predominantly patrolled Alaskan waters enforcing fishery laws, is now conducting drug operations in the eastern Pacific.
Coast Guard officials said the cocaine seizure by the Jarvis marks the 17th drug interdiction of the year in the eastern Pacific, bringing the total amount of seized cocaine to more than 87,000 pounds.
"This is a sometimes forgotten war where the stakes are still very high," said Capt. Michael Jett, commanding officer of the Jarvis.
The Jarvis is not the only Hawaii-based military vessel that has been active in drug busts this year.
During two separate deployments over the last two years, the crew of the Pearl Harbor-based USS Crommelin has intercepted at least 6.5 tons of cocaine, resulting in the arrest of 20 suspects.
