By Roberto Bustamante
A federal operation intercepted a smuggling vessel carrying cocaine valued at approximately 6.7 million of dollars off the coast of Key Biscayne.
According to an official statement, a Coast Guard crew from the Miami Seaside Station collaborated with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations units, as well as officers from the CBP Office of Field Operations, to locate and detain the suspected drug smuggling vessel.
The seizure took place just one mile east of Cape Florida. Upon boarding the vessel, the teams discovered approximately 408 kilograms of contraband.
Narcotics and three alleged smugglers were handed over to federal agents of the Miami Division of the DEA, who took charge of custody and the ongoing criminal investigation.
“The Coast Guard and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners remain vigilant in our joint efforts to keep our maritime borders secure by preventing illicit narcotics from reaching our communities,” said Lt. Matthew Ross, commander of Coast Guard Station Miami Seaside.
“I am extremely proud of the professionalism of our security teams and our continued collaboration with our partners to safeguard American lives,” he added.
While Key Biscayne residents are accustomed to seeing Coast Guard and CBP vessels patrolling the horizon, this multimillion-dollar seizure serves as a reminder of the frontline defense that operates daily just beyond the Cape Florida Lighthouse.
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