Coast Guard seizes more than $18M of cocaine in Florida after boat capsizes

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded over 1,380 pounds of cocaine, with a street value of roughly $18.1 million, in Florida.

On Wednesday, officials in Miami Beach interdicted the drugs in the middle of the Caribbean Sea.

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USCG said the go-fast boat capsized during the interdiction, forcing them to rescue the three suspected smugglers on board before recovering the contraband that had been discarded into the sea.

The three suspects will face prosecution in federal courts, according to officials.

“I am incredibly proud of the skill and tenacity displayed by our entire team during this interdiction,” Cmdr. T.J. Orth, commanding officer of USS St. Louis said. “This operation was a testament to the capability of our Navy-Coast Guard and interagency teams. The sailors of St. Louis and HSM-50, and Coast Guardsmen of LEDET 105 utilized every resource and capability at their disposal to track and intercept the vessel and then respond to safeguard the lives of the three suspected smugglers.”

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