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Coast Guard lists 2008 highlights

The Coast Guard seized nearly 400,000 pounds of cocaine and more than 22,000 pounds of marijuana in fiscal 2008. Members also saved nearly 5,000 lives, marking the end of a record year of drug seizures and rescues.

The service also released its Top 10 videos for the year on Dec. 23, which includes a drug bust by boarding teams from the cutter Midgett that netted about $196 million worth of cocaine from a self-propelled, semi-submersible submarine. Another video shows the rescue of a pilot and her dog from a crashed plane.

The videos can be seen here or through the Coast Guard’s YouTube channel.

Other 2008 highlights include:

• Restoration of critical ports and waterways in the wake of hurricanes Gustav and Ike.

• 680 Great Lakes icebreaking operations that allowed the transport of more than $2 billion in cargo.

• The interdiction of more than 4,800 migrants attempting to illegally enter the United States.

• More than 76,000 pounds of humanitarian supplies delivered to the Republic of Georgia during Operation Assured Delivery.