Coasties intercept 'narco’ sub carrying $165M in cocaine

MIAMI — The U.S. Coast Guard says a cutter patrolling eastern parts of the Pacific Ocean seized a “narco” submarine carrying cocaine worth a street value of more than $165 million.

In a Tuesday news release, the agency says the crew captured the self-propelled semi-submersible in international waters earlier this month and apprehended four suspected drug smugglers.

The semi-submersible was detected and monitored by maritime patrol aircraft and the Coast Guard cutter’s crew was diverted by the Joint Interagency Task Force South to seize it.

RELATED

VP Pence lauds Coast Guard crew for massive cocaine haul

The Coast Guard cutter Murno returned this week from a three-month drug interdiction deployment in the Eastern Pacific.

By Geoff Ziezulewicz

They offloaded about 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms) of cocaine but the rest couldn’t be safely removed due to concerns about the vessel’s stability.

A total of about 12,000 pounds (5,400 kilograms) was eventually seized.

Cmdr. Matthew Waldron says in a 24-hour period the cutter crossed the equator and intercepted the sub.

In Other News

Extremism stand-down checked a box with no lasting result, critics say

While some saw no reason for the training and believed it ignited division among the ranks, others thought it didn’t go far enough.

Half of US would recommend military service to loved ones, report says

At the same time, one-third of respondents said they would discourage military service.

Lawmakers press VA for stronger rules against discrimination

Congressional Democrats and outside advocates say updated policies for the department are long overdue.

VA workers face more mandatory overtime amid record claims processing

The backlog of overdue disability claims is expected to keep rising over the next year.

How mutiny aboard the USS Somers helped birth the U.S. Naval Academy

The grim incident is detailed in the new book, “Sailing the Graveyard Sea."

Load More