Sept Drug Bust: USS Vandegrift Seizes 750 Pounds of Cocaine

Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Vandegrift (FFG 48) and U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET), in support of Operation Martillo, intercepted approximately 750 pounds of cocaine being smuggled aboard a fishing vessel while on routine patrol off the coast of Central America, Sept. 14.

The 11th Coast Guard District directed the Vandegrift to deploy its joint Coast Guard LEDET/Navy visit board search and seizure boat crew to intercept the vessel. Upon boarding, the LEDET searched the vessel and found approximately 350 individually wrapped packages of cocaine hidden within the ship.

This marks Vandegrift’s third successful interception in recent months, disrupting an approximated 4,950 pounds of cocaine shipments off the coast of Central America.

Vandegrift is currently deployed to the 4th Fleet area of operations in support of Operation Martillo, which began in January 2012.

Press release, Image: US Navy