PORT ANGELES, Wash. – The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Active (WMEC 618) returned home to Port Angeles, Friday following a 65-day law enforcement patrol off the coast of Southern California.
As America’s maritime law enforcement agency, the Coast Guard is increasing presence in key areas to protect U.S. maritime borders, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.
The crew covered more than 5,500 miles patrolling off the coast of California in support of the Coast Guard District 11’s Southwest Maritime Border Security operations. The operations counter Transnational Criminal Organization activity in the Coastal California Region, and the United States Pacific Maritime Southern Border including alien interdiction operations.
Active’s crew interdicted three vessels carrying 46 illegal aliens in total, while providing assistance and direction to aid in the apprehension of another 40 illegal aliens. The illegal aliens were all safely transferred to the custody of Customs and Border Protection agents in San Diego.
To enhance the crew’s military readiness, they conducted numerous training exercises with regional Coast Guard crews including an Air Station San Francisco MH-65 helicopter aircrew, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Terrell Horne (WPC-1131), a 154-foot fast response cutter homeported in San Pedro, Calif., and teams from the San Diego-based Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team West.
Additionally, while operating offshore northern California, the crew responded to four search and rescue cases.
The Active is a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Port Angeles. Patrolling from the northern most part of the contiguous United States, and as far south as the equator, Active has conducted law enforcement, defense operations, and search and rescue missions for over 60 years.
The cutter is a multi-mission platform that falls under the operational command of the Coast Guard Pacific Area Commander. Protecting the American homeland and its territories is the Coast Guard’s Pacific Area Commander’s top priority. In doing so, the U.S. Coast Guard protects and defends against threats to the safety, security, and prosperity of the American public.