Coast Guard Seizes $183 Million in Cocaine Offloaded in Fort Lauderdale

The U.S. Coast Guard has offloaded nearly 16,100 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $183 million in Fort Lauderdale. The massive drug bust took place at Port Everglades on Monday.

The cocaine, seized during operations in international waters off the coasts of South and Central America, was intercepted by the Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton and aircrews from the Helicopter Interdiction Squadron. The drugs were part of a three-and-a-half-month deployment in the eastern Pacific Ocean.

Along with the drugs, six suspected smugglers were taken into federal custody and will face prosecution by the U.S. Department of Justice.

Capt. Justin Carter, commanding officer of the Hamilton, praised the crew for their professionalism in executing the challenging mission. He highlighted the teamwork between ship and air crews in intercepting the illicit cargo.

The seizure marks another significant victory in the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in U.S. waters.