Cape May Cutter Part of 4,600 Lb. Drug Bust

August 11, 2004

ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¢ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â¬ÃƒÆ’Ã‚Â¢ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã‚Â¬Ãƒâ€¦Ã¢â‚¬Å“ The Coast Guard Cutter Dependable, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Cape May, N.J., made one of two drug busts on July 30 resulting in keeping more than 4,600 pounds of cocaine from eventually hitting U.S. streets.

The first case began at approximately 11:30 p.m. July 29, when a law enforcement team from the Dependable conducted a routine boarding on the 60-foot fishing vessel Mary Hill, homeported in Roatan, Honduras.

After a detailed search of the vessel, at 6 a.m. the Coast Guard crew finally discovered 64 bales of what later tested positive as cocaine hidden inside Mary Hill’s water tank. The bales weighed approximately 60 pounds each, tallying to 3,840 pounds of cocaine seized.

The six people on board Mary Hill, along with the contraband were transferred to the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute, a 210-foot medium endurance cutter from St. Petersburg, Fla., which will turn over the drugs and suspects to agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration and ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) upon return to homeport tomorrow.

The second case began approximately 4 a.m. when the Coast Guard cutter Spencer, a 270-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Boston, spotted a 42-foot go-fast vessel approximately 25 miles northeast of Nicaragua.

The crew on board the go-fast began to jettison what appeared to be bales from the boat, and a pursuit ensued.

Spencer launched a boarding team in its small boat, along with its embarked MH-68 Sting Ray helicopter from the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) in Jacksonville, Fla. After the suspected smugglers refused orders to stop, the Sting Ray crew issued warning shots and used disabling fire upon the fleeing go-fast, safely bringing it to a halt, where it was boarded by Spencer’s law enforcement team.

The eight people on board the go-fast were taken into Coast Guard custody. Spencer and an ICE P-3 aircraft searched for the ejected contraband, finding more than 800 pounds of illegal narcotics.

The drugs and the eight suspects were also transferred to Resolute and were turned over to DEA and ICE agents today.

Both of these cases were turned over to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida for further prosecution as part of Operation Panama Express.

Both Mary Hill, and the go fast were destroyed as hazards to navigation.

Cape May Cutter Part of 4,600 Lb. Drug Bust

The crew on board the go-fast began to jettison what appeared to be bales from the boat, and a pursuit ensued.

The eight people on board the go-fast were taken into Coast Guard custody. Spencer and an ICE P-3 aircraft searched for the ejected contraband, finding more than 800 pounds of illegal narcotics.

The drugs and the eight suspects were also transferred to Resolute and were turned over to DEA and ICE agents today.

Both of these cases were turned over to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida for further prosecution as part of Operation Panama Express.

Both Mary Hill, and the go fast were destroyed as hazards to navigation.

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