The Coast Guard has seized $63 million worth of cocaine on the high seas after a deadly gun battle.
The dramatic operation, led by the US Coast Guard and Royal Navy, led to 4,800 pounds of cocaine being recovered from a ship at a Florida port.
The Coast Guard published a post on social media showing officers from both agencies unloading large sealed containers from the ship onto pallets at Port Everglades in Florida.
The Coast Guard has seized $63 million worth of cocaine on the high seas after a deadly gun battle
The dramatic operation, led by the US Coast Guard and Royal Navy, led to 4,800 pounds of cocaine being recovered from a ship at a Florida port.
According to a press release, the crew opened fire on the suspected smugglers when the “non-compliant vessel” abruptly changed course and hurtled towards them at high speed.
The seizure Thursday was the result of a joint operation between the two agencies, including two actions off the coast of Puerta Cabello, Venezuela, the coast guard said in a social media post.
The team engaged a high-speed vessel in the Caribbean Sea that was suspected of smuggling narcotics, a Coast Guard spokesman said in its press release on Tuesday.
The ship refused the order to stop and instead increased speed and changed direction towards the Dutch chase boat.
The boat owned by Dutch and U.S. Coast Guard members opened fire on the boat in self-defense, U.S. Coast Guard officials said.
The ship caught fire and sank. Three suspected smugglers went overboard.
According to a press release, the crew opened fire on the suspected smugglers when the ‘non-compliant vessel’ abruptly changed course and hurtled towards them at high speed.
It was the second time this week that the joint operation attacked a ship believed to be carrying drugs
The search for the smugglers was suspended on Tuesday, authorities said.
The press release emphasized that the actions of both American and Dutch sailors were taken in self-defense and to protect others in the event of imminent danger.
It was the second time this week that the joint operation attacked a ship believed to be carrying drugs.