A U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team-South member stacks bales of illegal narcotics offloaded from USCGC Margaret Norvell (WPC 1105) at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach, April 5, 2024. The cutter and TACLET-South crews offloaded 30 bales of cocaine with an estimated street value of approximately $24.3 million. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Diana Sherbs) (Coast Guard)
MIAMI, Fla. – A Coast Guard crew offloaded more than 1,850 pounds of cocaine with an assessed street value of approximately $24.3 million in Miami on Friday, officials said.
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Novell intercepted a low-profile go-fast vessel carrying 30 bales of cocaine and detained five suspected smugglers approximately 190 miles south of Puerto Rico, the Coast Guard said.
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The crew of USCGC Margaret Norvell (WPC 1105) and Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team-South members celebrate a successful drug interdiction upon returing to homeport at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach, April 5, 2024. The crews interdicted a low-profile go-fast vessel carrying 30 bales of the illicit narcotics and detained five suspected smugglers approximately 190 miles south of Puerto Rico. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Diana Sherbs) (Coast Guard)
“I am incredibly proud of our crew,” said Lt. Cmdr. Colin Weaver, Commanding Officer of cutter Margaret Norvell. “I am also grateful for the exceptional coordination and teamwork extending beyond our unit that contributed to this interdiction. Countering drug trafficking organizations that operate throughout the Caribbean depends upon the international and interagency partnerships that JIATF-S and Joint Task Force-East bring to the fight.”
The suspects will face prosecution in federal courts by the Department of Justice.
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Marcela joined News4JAX in 2023. She grew up in Mexico and eventually moved to California to pursue her dream of becoming a journalist. Now, she is a proud San Diego State University alumna who has many years of experience in TV and digital journalism.
