WHO: Capt. Robert Mohr, commanding officer, Coast Guard Cutter Waesche, Alexandra (Sasha) Foster is the Criminal Chief in the Southern District of California U.S. Attorney’s Office
WHAT: The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche is scheduled to offload approximately 6,325 pounds of cocaine and more than 13,220 pounds of marijuana, worth more than $166 million, seized from the drug transit zones of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
WHEN: Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: 10th Avenue Marine Terminal, 1150 Terminal St., San Diego, CA 92101
Editor's Note: Media interested in attending should arrive no later than 9 a.m., and bring a government-issued photo ID, press credentials, proof of vehicle registration and insurance. Media will be escorted to the event location following security screening.
SAN DIEGO — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) is scheduled to offload more than 6,325 pounds of cocaine and more than 13,220 pounds of marijuana estimating a value worth more than $166 million on Wednesday, in San Diego.
The five interdictions were made late February and early March during four separate joint effort interdictions:
- The Waesche’s crew was responsible for two interdictions seizing approximately 881 pounds of cocaine and 9,500 pounds of marijuana.
- The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Steadfast (WMEC 623) was responsible for one interdiction, seizing approximately 3,300 pounds of cocaine.
- The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Active (WMEC 618) was responsible for two interdictions seizing approximately 2,116 pounds of cocaine and 3,716 pounds of marijuana.
Numerous U.S. agencies from the Departments of Defense, Justice and Homeland Security cooperate in the effort to combat transnational organized crime. The Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with allied and international partner agencies, play a role in counternarcotic operations.
The fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean requires unity of effort in all phases from detection, monitoring, and interdictions, to criminal prosecutions by international partners and U.S. Attorneys' Offices in districts across the nation. The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean is conducted under the authority of the Eleventh Coast Guard District, headquartered in Alameda. The interdictions, including the actual boardings, are led and condcuted by members of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Waesche is the second Legend-class cutter of the United States Coast Guard and is homeported at Coast Guard Island in Alameda. The Waesche is 418 feet long with a top speed of 28 knots and a range of 12,000 nautical miles. It is equipped with a flight deck and hangars capable of housing two multi-mission helicopters, and outfitted with the most advanced command, control, and communications equipment.
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