News & Features
Seized Cocaine Turned Over To Federal Law Enforcement Officials
Published: 01/10/2004
The U.S. Coast Guard on September 30 concluded a record-shattering year for maritime drug interdictions. For Fiscal Year 2004 (1 October 2003 to 30 September 2004), the Coast Guard captured more than 240,000 pounds of cocaine from smugglers worldwide, breaking the previous annual record by more than 100,000 pounds. The seized shipments were worth approximately $7.7 billion.
In the Caribbean region, drug seizure totals for fiscal year 2004 were nearly doubled from the previous year. 57,000 pounds of cocaine and 23,500 pounds of marijuana were stopped in 38 separate smuggling events resulting in 124 arrests.
"Vastly improved intelligence sharing, more coordinated operations with our enforcement and intelligence partners, and better resources meant our cutter and aircraft crews are increasingly finding themselves in the right place at the right time, with the right capabilities to detect and intercept any threat," said Admiral Thomas H. Collins, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. "The Coast Guard is committed to denying the seas to those who wish to harm our citizens, and this disruption of the illegal drug trade is part of our successful, layered homeland security strategy."
Ambassador John Rood, U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas, underscored the important role that international cooperation plays in successful counter-drug operations. "The United States and The Bahamas have a common interest in keeping drug traffickers away from our shores. Our partnership through Operation Bahamas Turks and Caicos (OPBAT) makes it easier for our law enforcement and military personnel to work together. OPBAT is a significant asset for The Bahamas. As a result, we're all safer and more secure."
John Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy, commended all those who contributed to this successful effort. "Every ton of cocaine seized is a ton of cocaine kept off of our nation's streets and away from our children. Drug use in America is declining and we hope to continue these declines by pursuing effective programs that reduce both the demand and supply of drugs."
The U.S. Coast Guard also made the largest and third largest single cocaine seizures in its history in back-to-back seizures the week of September 20, 2004, after discovering a combined 56,397 pounds of cocaine aboard two fishing vessels off the coast of Ecuador in South America.
