Coast Guard admiral, DEA administrator defend strikes on alleged drug boats
The strikes have come amid a broader buildup of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean as the Trump administration continues to put pressure on Venezuela.
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The strikes have come amid a broader buildup of U.S. military forces in the Caribbean as the Trump administration continues to put pressure on Venezuela.
Officials said this is a result of 15 separate interceptions by the crews of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stone, along with aircrews and partner agencies.
Officials emphasized that 80 percent of U.S.-bound narcotics seizures occur at sea, underscoring the significance of maritime interdictions.
The Coast Guard says it seized nearly 30,000 pounds of cocaine from alleged drug boats in recent weeks.
The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded a record 61,740 pounds of cocaine and 14,400 pounds of marijuana in what officials called the largest drug seizure in its history.
Alcohol and drug testing for individuals onboard the tug and barge as well as the sailboat operator was negative, the U.S. Coast Guard said.
According to Coast Guard Sector Miami, the sailboat—with five children and an adult counselor on board—sank after being hit by the barge.
Capt. Frank Florio III, Commander of Coast Guard Sector Miami, outlined the details of the incident and the ongoing investigation.
South Florida serves as a key hub for these efforts, with the Joint Interagency Task Force-South in Key West coordinating detection and monitoring of illegal drug transit.
According to the USCG, the boat fire was reported about eight miles off the coast of Key Biscayne near Elliott Key.
Coast Guard officials announced the drug seizure followed four successful interdictions in the Eastern Pacific.
The boat's maximum capacity is 16 people, but authorities said 32 people were rescued when the yacht began to sink on Saturday.
The drugs were seized in 13 interdictions in the eastern Pacific Ocean by the crews of the U.S. Coast Guard cutters James and Mohawk, federal authorities said.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called in an "unprecedented seizure of illicit drugs."
The USCG said it had been actively searching for 24-year-old Jack Levine, who "reportedly failed to resurface while diving" about two miles off Pompano Beach on Saturday.
On Thursday morning, the USCG offloaded the illicit drugs at the Coast Guard Station in Miami Beach.
The U.S. Coast Guard has been monitoring for spills and tracking oil tankers but has not identified a cause.
Several fishermen helped Coast Guard crewmembers rescue four Americans whose ship had sunk after striking several rocks.
A top priority of the surge is to deter and prevent potential mass maritime migration from Haiti and Cuba.
Six suspected smugglers were transferred to federal custody.
The cruise ship departed from Port Everglades on Saturday and was about 130 miles off the coast of San Juan
A yacht operator is facing two counts of homicide for reckless operation of a vessel following a fatal boating accident on Biscayne Bay.
A Disney Cruise Line ship, the Disney Treasure, rescued four people from a catamaran that was taking on water some 265 miles from Bermuda Sunday, according to the Coast Guard.
U.S. Coast Guard crew members on Tuesday offloaded about 990 pounds of cocaine worth more than $11 million at Base Miami Beach.
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Cash donations, along with essential supplies, can make the biggest difference as South Florida continues supporting earthquake survivors in Venezuela.
"We have to be hopeful. We rely on our faith."
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CBS Miami, Neighbors 4 Neighbors and Global Empowerment Mission are collecting donations to help families affected by the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela.
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