The U.S Coast Guard on Tuesday offloaded 2,500 pounds of cocaine, worth $37 million, which was seized in a multi-national drug bust south of the Dominican Republic.
On Jan. 22 in the dark, a Coast Guard aircraft detected a 25-foot go-fast boat with four people and suspicious-looking packages aboard. The boat was going very fast.
Authorities launched a helicopter and fired warning shots at the vessel to stop it, but the boat continued. The suspected smugglers were seen throwing packages into the water during the chase.
The helicopter then shot out both of the vessel's outboard engines and disabled the boat.
Authorities detained the people and recovered 45 bales of cocaine.
The alleged smugglers will be taken to authorities in the U.S.
Local
"This historic operation is a result of a dedication to improved interoperability and highlights the great success and commitment of our interagency partnerships to stop the illegal flow of narcotics into the United States,” Rear Admiral Jake Korn, commander of the Coast Guard Seventh District, said in an email statement.
