Latest news with #CutterWaesche
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Yahoo
Over $275 million worth of cocaine seized in San Diego by Coast Guard
SAN DIEGO, Calif. - A major drug bust in San Diego as the US Coast Guard offloaded more than $275 million worth of illegal cocaine. The crew of Cutter Waseche seized 37,256 pounds of cocaine on Thursday. According to Coast Guard officials, the offload was a result of 11 separate suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America by the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche from the months of December 2024 to February 2025. "This offload represents a small part of a large and enduring multinational, multi-agency effort to combat international drug cartels and deter the flow of illegal narcotics coming to the United States, said Vice Adm. Andrew J. Tiongson, commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area. During a press conference Thursday, he said drug trafficking is the financial fuel for cartels, who bring illegal cocaine and fentanyl into the US. The Coast Guard is increasing their operations to disrupt and seize transnational shipments of illicit drugs.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Yahoo
More than $275M worth of cocaine offloaded by US Coast Guard in San Diego
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche crew offloaded over 37,000 pounds of cocaine in San Diego on Thursday, with an estimated street value exceeding $275 million, military officials noted in a press release. The massive haul follows a series of successful drug interdictions by the Cutter Waesche off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America. The cocaine, seized between December 2024 and February 2025, was intercepted during 11 separate operations targeting suspected drug smuggling vessels. Suspected hand grenade unearthed by construction workers at San Diego International Airport According to Coast Guard officials, the interdictions were part of the branch's ongoing efforts to combat the flow of illicit narcotics into the United States. 'The Waesche crew faced numerous challenges during this patrol, overcoming the hardest adversities and still had 11 successful drug interdictions,' said Capt. Tyson Scofield, commanding officer of the Cutter Waesche. 'Their dedication, strength of character and resilience ensured the success of our mission, preventing over $275 million worth of illicit narcotics from reaching the United States and protecting our communities from the devastating effects of transnational crime.' The successful interdictions were the result of coordinated efforts involving multiple U.S. agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security. The U.S. Coast Guard also worked closely with the Navy, Customs and Border Protection, the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and international partners in the fight against transnational organized crime. The fight against drug cartels in the region is essential, as the drugs seized are often linked to the production and trafficking of dangerous substances like fentanyl, which has contributed to a public health crisis in the U.S. The Cutter Waesche, homeported in Alameda, California, is one of the U.S. Coast Guard's four 'legend-class national security cutters.' The vessel is designed to operate in demanding open ocean environments, making it an integral part of efforts to disrupt the flow of illicit drugs in the Southern Pacific. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
