MEDIA ADVISORY: Coast Guard to offload more than $275 million of cocaine in San Diego > United States Coast Guard News > Press Releases

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U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche’s (WMSL 751) Long Range Interceptor (LRI) small boat and a Go-Fast vessel seized by Waesche, transfer the contraband. The interdiction occurred in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Feb. 3, 2025. Waesche seized around 1,570 kgs of cocaine and apprehended three suspected drug smugglers with the assistance of HITRON 25-03, PACTACLET LEDET 103, and ScanEagle team. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by OS2 Cody Langrall)

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Coast Guard Cutter Waesche interdicts illegal drugs in Eastern Pacific

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche’s (WMSL 751) Long Range Interceptor (LRI) small boat and a Go-Fast vessel seized by Waesche, transfer the contraband. The interdiction occurred in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Feb. 3, 2025. Waesche seized around 1,570 kgs of cocaine and apprehended three suspected drug smugglers with the assistance of HITRON 25-03, PACTACLET LEDET 103, and ScanEagle team. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by OS2 Cody Langrall)

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) sinks the Go-Fast vessel interdicted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean because it posed a hazard to navigation. Waesche interdicted the Go-Fast vessel the assistance of HITRON 25-03, PACTACLET LEDET 103, and ScanEagle team. Resulting in the seizure of 1,570 kgs of cocaine and apprehension three suspected drug smugglers (U.S. Coast Guard photo by LTJG Julia VanLuven)

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Coast Guard Cutter Waesche interdicts illegal drugs in Eastern Pacific

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) sinks the Go-Fast vessel interdicted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean because it posed a hazard to navigation. Waesche interdicted the Go-Fast vessel the assistance of HITRON 25-03, PACTACLET LEDET 103, and ScanEagle team. Resulting in the seizure of 1,570 kgs of cocaine and apprehension three suspected drug smugglers (U.S. Coast Guard photo by LTJG Julia VanLuven)

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) onloads contraband from a Go-Fast vessel interdicted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Feb. 3, 2025. Waesche seized around 1,570 kgs of cocaine and apprehended three suspected drug smugglers with the assistance of HITRON 25-03, PACTACLET LEDET 103, and ScanEagle team. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by LTJG Julia VanLuven)

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Coast Guard Cutter Waesche interdicts illegal drugs in Eastern Pacific

U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) onloads contraband from a Go-Fast vessel interdicted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Feb. 3, 2025. Waesche seized around 1,570 kgs of cocaine and apprehended three suspected drug smugglers with the assistance of HITRON 25-03, PACTACLET LEDET 103, and ScanEagle team. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by LTJG Julia VanLuven)

Members of LEDET 103 and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) seized control of a Go-Fast vessel interdicted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Feb. 3, 2025. Waesche seized around 1,570 kgs of cocaine and apprehended three suspected drug smugglers with the assistance of HITRON 25-03, PACTACLET LEDET 103, and ScanEagle team. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by LTJG Julia VanLuven)

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Coast Guard Cutter Waesche interdicts illegal drugs in Eastern Pacific

Members of LEDET 103 and U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) seized control of a Go-Fast vessel interdicted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Feb. 3, 2025. Waesche seized around 1,570 kgs of cocaine and apprehended three suspected drug smugglers with the assistance of HITRON 25-03, PACTACLET LEDET 103, and ScanEagle team. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by LTJG Julia VanLuven)

Who: Vice Adm. Andrew J. Tiongson, commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area, Rear Admiral Joseph R. Buzzella, commander, Coast Guard District 11, Rear Admiral Jo-Ann Burdian, Joint Interagency Task Force South, U.S. Coast Guard, Capt. Tyson Scofield U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) commanding officer and crew, Mr. Brian Clark, special agent in charge, DEA, San Diego Field Office; Mr. Shawn Gibson special agent in charge, Homeland Security Investigations, San Diego Field Office.

What: U. S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche crew to offload approximately 37,256 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated value of more than $275 million.

When: 1:30 p.m., Thursday

Where: 10th Ave Marine Terminal - 1800 Crosby Rd, San Diego, CA 92101

*Media wishing to attend should arrive no later than 1 p.m., with media credentials, a valid driver’s license, and proof of insurance. Please call +1 (619) 252-1304 and email Coast Guard District 11 public affairs at padetsd@uscg.mil to RSVP. 

SAN DIEGO — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche (WMSL 751) will offload approximately 37,256 pounds of cocaine with an estimated value of $275 million, on Thursday in San Diego.

The offload is a result of 11 separate suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions or events off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America by the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche in December through February.

The Coast Guard Cutter Waesche is one of four legend-class national security cutters, homeported in Alameda, California.

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