The U.S. Coast Guard, working with the U.S. Navy, seized over 860 pounds of cocaine valued at $13.65 million from a vessel in the Caribbean Sea.
The interdiction occurred on May 25, carried out by the crew of the USS Gravely (DDG 107), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, alongside a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET). The drugs were found in 19 bales.
The Coast Guard reported that the Gravely’s Visit, Board, Search, and Seizure team, supported by the Coast Guard LEDET, led the operation.
Operating under U.S. Northern Command’s maritime homeland defense authority, the USS Gravely collaborates closely with LEDET teams to combat illegal drug trafficking and other maritime threats.
By combining the LEDET’s tactical skills with Gravely’s advanced surveillance and mobility, the joint team extends Coast Guard authority through Navy resources, strengthening maritime security in the region, the Coast Guard explained.
“Together, the Navy’s mobility and the Coast Guard’s jurisdiction deliver a strong, coordinated response to threats offshore. This is how sea power protects the #homeland,” the Coast Guard said.
