The US Coast Guard Cutter Seneca returned to its homeport in Boston Saturday morning following a 70-day, 15,000 mile deployment combating international drug trafficking and migrant interdiction operations.
During the Florida Straits and Pacific Ocean patrol, Seneca’s crew, along with an armed Coast Guard helicopter crew, interdicted five go-fast type vessels carrying cocaine from South America bound for the United States.
The interdiction of these vessels resulted in the apprehension of 15 suspected narcotics traffickers, and approximately 3.5 tons of cocaine with a street value of nearly $63 million.
The Coast Guard and partner agencies operating in the Eastern Pacific Ocean near Central and South America have seized more cocaine in the last 10 months than in 2012 through 2014 combined.
Also while on patrol, Seneca’s crew rescued and cared for more than 100 Cuban migrants who had attempted to sail from Cuba to the United States in unsafe and unseaworthy vessels.
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Image: USCG