MIAMI — The Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander, Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations Southeast Region director, and the commanding officer of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James are scheduled to participate in a press conference, Thursday, following the offload of nearly $500 million in illegal drugs in Port Everglades.
The contraband was interdicted by the Coast Guard and partner agencies in the Eastern Pacific Ocean Caribbean Sea. Coast Guard imagery and b-roll of the drug offload will be provided to media in attendance, to complement the press conference content, as contraband will not be present. Coast Guard crewmembers will also be available for interviews preceding the press conference.
WHO: Vice Adm. Kevin Lunday, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area commander, John Priddy, director of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations Southeast Region, and Capt. Donald Terkanian, commanding officer of James.
WHAT: Participating members will comment on and provide context for the maritime security mission and joint efforts to keep $500 million in illegal drugs off the streets.
WHERE: Berth 22, Port Everglades - 1800 SE 20th St, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. The seaport can be accessed by:
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Main entrance. Take I-595 East straight into the port (I-595 becomes Eller Drive once inside the Port). I-595 runs east/west with connections to the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport, U.S.1, I-95, State Road 7 (441), Florida's Turnpike, Sawgrass Expressway and I-75.
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Note: Due to anticipated traffic associated with the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, media are encouraged to use the entrances at U.S. 1/State Road 84 and I-595 Eller Drive, to avoid the SE 17th Street Causeway entrance.
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North entrance. Take U.S.1 or A1A to 17th Street Causeway in Fort Lauderdale and turn south at the streetlight onto Eisenhower Blvd. US1/Federal Highway entrance. At the intersection of State Road 84 East and U.S.1 (Federal Hwy.), turn east into the seaport.
WHEN: Thursday, 2:30 p.m., Oct. 26, 2023. Media who arrive early may interview select crew members from James.
Editor's Note: Media are asked to RSVP by no later than 11 a.m., Thursday, with the Seventh Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at (305) 452-8127 or by emailing D7publicaffairs@gmail.com in order to be authorized access to the facility. Interested media are requested to arrive by 2 p.m., Thursday, with a valid driver's license and proof of insurance to be processed through port security.
James is a 418-foot national security cutter homeported in Charleston, South Carolina.
Media Kit resources:
Vice Admiral Kevin E. Lunday, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area (BIO)
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter James webpage and Unit Facebook page
Executive Director John Priddy, U.S. CBP Air and Marine Operations, Southeast Region (BIO)
Links:
DVIDS page for operational imagery: DVIDS - U.S. Coast Guard District 7 (dvidshub.net)
News Room for press releases: 7th District Southeast (uscg.mil)
Follow D7 on Facebook: @USCoastGuardSoutheast
Follow D7 on X (formerly Twitter): @USCGSoutheast
Follow D7 on Instagram: @uscgsoutheast
Follow LANTAREA on Facebook: @USCoastGuardAtlanticArea
Follow LANTAREA on X (formerly Twitter): @USCGLANTAREA
Follow LANTAREA on Instagram: @uscglantarea
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