Coast Guard
Coast Guard Cutter Waesche returns to California homeport
Stars and Stripes
December 10, 2023
The Waesche and crew spent 89 days patrolling more than 19,740 miles in the Eastern Pacific Ocean conducting law enforcement and search and rescue operations in international waters off Central and South America.
Family and friends celebrate as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) crew returns to homeport in Alameda, Calif., Dec. 9, 2023. (Charly Tautfest/U.S. Coast Guard)
Family and friends celebrate as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) crew returns to homeport in Alameda, Calif., Dec. 9, 2023. (Charly Tautfest/U.S. Coast Guard)
Family and friends celebrate as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) crew returns to homeport in Alameda, Calif., Dec. 9, 2023. (Charly Tautfest/U.S. Coast Guard)
Family and friends celebrate as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) crew returns to homeport in Alameda, Calif., Dec. 9, 2023. (Charly Tautfest/U.S. Coast Guard)
Family and friends celebrate as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) crew returns to homeport in Alameda, Calif., Dec. 9, 2023. (Charly Tautfest/U.S. Coast Guard)
Family and friends celebrate as the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) crew returns to homeport in Alameda, Calif., Dec. 9, 2023. (Charly Tautfest/U.S. Coast Guard)
On Thursday, the Waesche offloaded 18,219 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $239 million, in San Diego.
Crews from the Waesche and the Coast Guard Cutter Active interdicted six suspected smuggling vessels while patrolling international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean over the last few weeks.
Waesche’s crew was responsible for four interdictions, seizing 14,350 pounds of cocaine, and Active’s crew was responsible for two interdictions, seizing 3,869 pounds of cocaine.