Latest news with #U.S.CoastGuard
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Norfolk-based USS Gravely captures hundreds of pounds of cocaine worth over $13 million
The Norfolk-based USS Gravely last week seized more than 850 pounds of narcotics while in the Caribbean Sea. The ship's search and seizure team had boarded a 'vessel of interest' on May 25 and found 19 bales of cocaine, according to a news release from the Navy. A spokesperson for the Navy said the drugs had a street value of $13.6 million. 'Seamless integration of U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard maritime assets (are) integral to border protection — this is an excellent example of that teamwork,' said Vice Adm. Doug Perry, commander of the U.S. 2nd Fleet. 'Border security is national security.' The USS Gravely has been in the gulf since March 15 and works with Coast Guard personnel to target drug trafficking, illegal immigration and transnational crime.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Missing 10-year-old girl's remains identified after Panga boat capsized off California coast
Authorities have confirmed the identity of a body that washed ashore in San Diego County last week as a 10-year-old girl who was reported missing after a Panga boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast. Mahi Brijeshkumar Patel was one of four passengers who died after their boat capsized on May 5, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office. She had turned 10 just two days before the accident. Her body washed ashore at Torrey Pines State Beach on May 21. Her 14-year-old brother, Prince Brijeshkumar Patel, also died in the incident. His death was ruled an accidental drowning. The siblings' parents were both rescued but the father remains in a coma, officials said. The family is from India. The family was aboard the Pangaboat, a small boat with an outboard motor, along with several other people when it capsized at Del Mar Beach. Read more: Dad in coma, son dead and 10-year-old daughter missing after migrant boat capsizes; 5 charged The U.S. Coast Guard received a call around 6:30 a.m. that a small panga-style boat with an estimated 16 people on board had overturned just north of Torrey Pines State Beach, said Hunter Schnabel, a Coast Guard public affairs officer. The third drowning victim was identified as Marcos Lozada-Juarez, 18. The fourth victim has not yet been identified. Authorities have not confirmed a final total of how many people were aboard the boat. Authorities began making arrests soon after the capsized boat was reported. Two people — Jesus Ivan Rodriguez-Leyva, 36, and Julio Cesar Zuniga-Luna, 30, both Mexican nationals — were arrested on the beach on suspicion of smuggling the passengers on the boat, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. A few hours later in Chula Vista, just 10 miles from the Mexican border, Border Patrol agents spotted a car, which had been seen earlier near the accident scene, and arrested three of its passengers, but the driver got away. Agents continued their investigation and eventually stopped two other vehicles involved in the smuggling incident and discovered eight of the nine missing migrants, according to prosecutors. The drivers of the vehicles — Melissa Jenelle Cota, 33; Gustavo Lara, 32; and Sergio Rojas-Fregoso, 31 — were arrested and charged with the transportation of undocumented immigrants, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Times staff writer Clara Harter contributed to this report. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
2 days ago
- Los Angeles Times
Missing 10-year-old girl's remains identified after Panga boat capsized off California coast
Authorities have confirmed the identity of a body that washed ashore in San Diego County last week as a 10-year-old girl who was reported missing after a Panga boat carrying migrants capsized off the coast. Mahi Brijeshkumar Patel was one of four passengers who died after their boat capsized on May 5, according to the San Diego County Medical Examiner's Office. She had turned 10 just two days before the accident. Her body washed ashore at Torrey Pines State Beach on May 21. Her 14-year-old brother, Prince Brijeshkumar Patel, also died in the incident. His death was ruled an accidental drowning. The siblings' parents were both rescued but the father remains in a coma, officials said. The family is from India. The family was aboard the Pangaboat, a small boat with an outboard motor, along with several other people when it capsized at Del Mar Beach. The U.S. Coast Guard received a call around 6:30 a.m. that a small panga-style boat with an estimated 16 people on board had overturned just north of Torrey Pines State Beach, said Hunter Schnabel, a Coast Guard public affairs officer. The third drowning victim was identified as Marcos Lozada-Juarez, 18. The fourth victim has not yet been identified. Authorities have not confirmed a final total of how many people were aboard the boat. Authorities began making arrests soon after the capsized boat was reported. Two people — Jesus Ivan Rodriguez-Leyva, 36, and Julio Cesar Zuniga-Luna, 30, both Mexican nationals — were arrested on the beach on suspicion of smuggling the passengers on the boat, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. A few hours later in Chula Vista, just 10 miles from the Mexican border, Border Patrol agents spotted a car, which had been seen earlier near the accident scene, and arrested three of its passengers, but the driver got away. Agents continued their investigation and eventually stopped two other vehicles involved in the smuggling incident and discovered eight of the nine missing migrants, according to prosecutors. The drivers of the vehicles — Melissa Jenelle Cota, 33; Gustavo Lara, 32; and Sergio Rojas-Fregoso, 31 — were arrested and charged with the transportation of undocumented immigrants, which is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Times staff writer Clara Harter contributed to this report.
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Coast Guard Teams Up With Allies Amid China Escalation
A United States Coast Guard ship has arrived in Northeast Asia as it prepares to conduct a joint exercise with South Korean and Japanese counterparts amid escalating maritime assertiveness by China. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email. USCGC Stratton, a U.S. Coast Guard national security cutter, has been deployed in the western Pacific Ocean since early May. It arrived in the Philippines-a U.S. treaty ally with territorial disputes against China in the South China Sea-two weeks ago for an exercise. South Korea and Japan-American treaty allies-face maritime challenges from China, with the East Asian power installing structures in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, and unilaterally declaring "no-sail zones" near the Korean Peninsula, raising concerns. U.S. Naval Forces Korea announced that the Stratton arrived at Busan naval base in South Korea on Thursday for a trilateral engagement with South Korean and Japanese coast guards to improve their "interoperability and collaboration" in the Indo-Pacific region. The exercise-scheduled to run from May 29 to June 2-is focused on joint search and rescue, in accordance with an agreement reached last year that aims to strengthen coordination among the three parties for maritime disaster response, according to the South Korean coast guard. The Stratton is also expected to conduct a second trilateral drill in Japan, which will involve the Japanese and Philippine coast guards, the U.S. Embassy in Manila previously revealed. "Consistent U.S. Coast Guard national security cutter deployments to the region demonstrate the U.S. commitment to strong maritime governance that supports security, freedom, and prosperity in the Western Pacific," the U.S. Coast Guard said. During its months-long deployment, the Stratton is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15, the U.S. Seventh Fleet's principal surface force, the U.S. Coast Guard added. The Japan-based fleet maintains America's naval presence in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. In addition to trilateral coast guard exercises, the U.S. and its Northeast Asian allies have regularly conducted joint naval drills. In mid-March, an American aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, joined the Japanese and South Korean navies for a war game in the East China Sea. The U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area told Newsweek: "Stratton is currently deployed under the tactical control of [Destroyer Squadron] 15 and seeks to strengthen global maritime governance to preserve sovereignty, share information, facilitate force-multiplying partnerships, and demonstrate professionalism to reinforce the rule of law at sea." A South Korean coast guard official said on Wednesday: "This drill is even more meaningful in that it is the first joint exercise led by the ROK Coast Guard and it is an opportunity for the three countries to share real-time information and check rescue response systems as if it were a real battle." ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, the official name of South Korea. It remains to be seen how the U.S. Coast Guard will maintain its presence in the western Pacific Ocean in addition to its role of stopping the flow of illegal migrants and drugs to the U.S. by sea. Related Articles Giant Construction Projects Boom as U.S. Lifts Syria SanctionsChina Warns US Over Trump's 'Golden Dome'Photos Show US Aircraft Carrier Preparing for Patrol on Pacific Front LineAmerican Drone Company Claims Major Breakthrough Over Chinese Competitors 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
2 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Coast Guard Teams Up With Allies Amid China Escalation
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A United States Coast Guard ship has arrived in Northeast Asia as it prepares to conduct a joint exercise with South Korean and Japanese counterparts amid escalating maritime assertiveness by China. Newsweek has contacted the Chinese defense and foreign ministries for comment by email. Why It Matters USCGC Stratton, a U.S. Coast Guard national security cutter, has been deployed in the western Pacific Ocean since early May. It arrived in the Philippines—a U.S. treaty ally with territorial disputes against China in the South China Sea—two weeks ago for an exercise. South Korea and Japan—American treaty allies—face maritime challenges from China, with the East Asian power installing structures in the Yellow Sea and East China Sea, and unilaterally declaring "no-sail zones" near the Korean Peninsula, raising concerns. What To Know U.S. Naval Forces Korea announced that the Stratton arrived at Busan naval base in South Korea on Thursday for a trilateral engagement with South Korean and Japanese coast guards to improve their "interoperability and collaboration" in the Indo-Pacific region. The exercise—scheduled to run from May 29 to June 2—is focused on joint search and rescue, in accordance with an agreement reached last year that aims to strengthen coordination among the three parties for maritime disaster response, according to the South Korean coast guard. The Stratton is also expected to conduct a second trilateral drill in Japan, which will involve the Japanese and Philippine coast guards, the U.S. Embassy in Manila previously revealed. The United States Coast Guard national security cutter USCGC Stratton arrives at Busan naval base in South Korea on May 29, 2025. The United States Coast Guard national security cutter USCGC Stratton arrives at Busan naval base in South Korea on May 29, 2025. Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Robert A. Moses/U.S. Navy "Consistent U.S. Coast Guard national security cutter deployments to the region demonstrate the U.S. commitment to strong maritime governance that supports security, freedom, and prosperity in the Western Pacific," the U.S. Coast Guard said. During its months-long deployment, the Stratton is assigned to Destroyer Squadron 15, the U.S. Seventh Fleet's principal surface force, the U.S. Coast Guard added. The Japan-based fleet maintains America's naval presence in the western Pacific and Indian Oceans. In addition to trilateral coast guard exercises, the U.S. and its Northeast Asian allies have regularly conducted joint naval drills. In mid-March, an American aircraft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, joined the Japanese and South Korean navies for a war game in the East China Sea. What People Are Saying The U.S. Coast Guard Pacific Area told Newsweek: "Stratton is currently deployed under the tactical control of [Destroyer Squadron] 15 and seeks to strengthen global maritime governance to preserve sovereignty, share information, facilitate force-multiplying partnerships, and demonstrate professionalism to reinforce the rule of law at sea." A South Korean coast guard official said on Wednesday: "This drill is even more meaningful in that it is the first joint exercise led by the ROK Coast Guard and it is an opportunity for the three countries to share real-time information and check rescue response systems as if it were a real battle." ROK stands for the Republic of Korea, the official name of South Korea. What Happens Next It remains to be seen how the U.S. Coast Guard will maintain its presence in the western Pacific Ocean in addition to its role of stopping the flow of illegal migrants and drugs to the U.S. by sea.
