U.S Coast Guard officers set up pallets at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale that are part of 45,600 pounds of cocaine worth more than $517.5 million, confiscated during 14 interdictions by the U.S. Coast Guard. The agency held a press conference at Port Everglades on Thursday March 20, 2024. (Pedro Portal, Miami Herald via TNS)
(Tribune News Service) — Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem took a trip to Fort Lauderdale on Thursday where a U.S Coast Guard cutter crew offloaded more than 45,000 pounds of cocaine, the largest amount seized during a single deployment.
In addition to the cocaine — roughly $515.5 million in street value, the Coast Guard said — the agency seized 50 pounds of marijuana during 14 interdictions by the crews of the U.S. Coast Guard cutters Stone and Mohawk in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
The cocaine amounts to roughly 20 metric tons, or equivalent to about 17 million doses, said Joint Interagency Task Force Deputy Director Rear Adm. Joshua Lasky.
“Today is a historic day here at Port Everglades,” Noem told reporters standing before the cutter Stone. “Fewer families are going to be torn apart by addiction, that fewer lives are going to be lost to overdoses and that communities will be safer.”
Secretary Noem declined to answer any questions related to immigration issues under the Trump administration.
Acting Commandant of the U.S Coast Guard Adm. Kevin Lunday said the Coast Guard’s work starts at the southern border with Mexico.
“We are ensuring 100% operational control of the border,” Lunday said. “Our message to these cartels is this: We own the sea, not you.”
Capt. Jonathan Carter, commanding officer of the Stone, highlighted his crew’s accomplishments.
“In one exceptional case, the crew interdicted four narco-trafficking vessels in just 15 minutes, seizing nearly 11,000 pounds of cocaine,” he said.
Ethan Di Egidio, who spent four months aboard the Stone, served as a boarding officer and Spanish interpreter, speaking with Spanish-speaking suspected drug smugglers. He said around 35 suspected smugglers were apprehended during the deployment.
“We refer to ourselves as the Stone family, and I truly believe that we lift each other up, support each other and take care of each other,” Di Egidio said. “That’s what allows us to operate at such a high level and at such a fast pace for so long.”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem arrives for a press conference held at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, to discuss the confiscation of over 45,600 pounds of drugs worth more than $517.5 million, during 14 interdictions during 14 interdictions by the U.S. Coast Guard cutters Stone and Mohawk on Thursday March 20, 2024. (Pedro Portal, Miami Herald via TNS)
View of pallets part of 45,600 pounds of drugs worth more than $517.5 million Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday March 20, 2024. (Pedro Portal, Miami Herald via TNS)
U.S Coast Guard officers offload pallets at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, on Thursday March 20, 2024. (Pedro Portal, Miami Herald via TNS)
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