CGC Escanaba seizes 963 pounds of cocaine

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Posted by: LT Connie Braesch

ESCANABA DRUG OFFLOAD

MIAMI - Ensign Raynor Buckley, a crewmember on board the CGC Escanaba, offloads a bale of cocaine at Base Support Unit Miami Sept. 24, 2010. U.S. Coast Guard photo by PO3 Sabrina Elgammal.

While on a law-enforcement patrol about 21 miles south of Isla de Providencia, Colombia, Sept. 17, CGC Escanaba seized more than 900 pounds of contraband from a fleeing 35-foot center-console vessel suspected of smuggling drugs.

During pursuit, the suspects on the vessel began throwing items overboard before beaching the vessel, fleeing on foot and evading capture. Escanaba crewmembers retrieved 15 bales and two backpacks of contraband from the water, which tested positive for cocaine.

The contraband was offloaded and transferred to U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agents Friday at Base Support Unit Miami.

Escanaba is a 270-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Boston.

Click here for video of the Escanaba crew offloading the contraband and an interview with CDR Edward Westfall, the commanding officer.

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  • Ronnie Isaacs

    THANKS TO EACH AND EVERYONE FOR HELPING TO KEEP THIS POISON OFF OF OUR STREETS. YOU ARE APPRECIATED AND RESPECTED MORE THAN YOU KNOW. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

  • LCDR Kurt Jahnke (Ret-2)

    Bravo Zulu Escanaba! You get it at sea so I don’t have to here at home on the street. K,Jahnke, Deputy Sheriff, Oregon

  • Bill Euefueno

    Nice to see my old ship doing the deed!! Great job guys Wish I were with you to take down those scumbags!

  • James Kellogg

    As long as the u.s. coast guard is out there, criminals will have a VERY hard time getting drugs to our streets. Well Done. You all work so hard to defend our country and protect us everyday and we do greatly appreciate it, and when I’ve got the time I’d like to personally thank all of you for such outstanding work and dedication!

    Semper Paratus!

  • BM2 Lee Gutierrez

    Bravo-Zulu CGC Escanaba!!!

  • Ken Ferguson

    Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), not Drug Enforcement Agency.