COAST GUARD OFFLOADS OVER $226 MILLION IN ILLICIT DRUGS INTERDICTED IN THE EASTERN PACIFIC

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15 -- The U.S. Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Coast Guard issued the following news release:

MIAMI - U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Tampa's crew offloaded approximately 29,600 pounds of cocaine and 3,355 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $226.7 million, Wednesday, in Port Everglades.

The seized contraband was the result of six interdictions in international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.

"This crew was phenomenal in successfully stopping a combined 32,000 pounds of contraband from reaching American shores," said Capt. Joshua DiPietro, commanding officer of Tampa. "By honing their maritime skills, standing the watch and working together, they intercepted over $226 million in illicit narcotics. Their resoundin...