USCG Cutter Bear seizes $140m haul in high-seas cocaine bust
The USCG Cutter Bear has returned to its home port after a three-month counter-smuggling patrol in the Eastern Pacific.
The Bear intercepted three vessels, seizing around 8,000 pounds of cocaine, marijuana, and methamphetamine with a street value of $140m. Her crew also detained 12 suspected drug smugglers.
“I am extremely proud of this crew and honored to be their commanding officer,” said Cmdr. Jeff Ferlauto, the Bear’s commanding officer.
“It’s been an extremely successful deployment and the crew met each challenge head-on. Since our initial transit through the Panama Canal into the Eastern Pacific, this crew dominated.”
The Bear carried a detachment from the USCG’s Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON), who specialise in disabling motor vessels with precision rifle fire and the vessel’s operations were conducted in liaison with a USCG Law Enforcement Detachment aboard the HMCS Saskatoon, a patrol vessel operated by the Canadian navy.
