US Coast Guard, partners seize US$5.6m in cocaine off Fort Lauderdale

U.S. authorities say they have seized two suspected drug-smuggling vessels carrying an estimated US$5.6 million worth of cocaine off the coast of Fort Lauderdale in a joint operation involving multiple federal agencies.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, approximately 745 pounds of cocaine were intercepted during the operations, which were carried out by a Station Fort Lauderdale law enforcement boat crew alongside officers from Customs and Border Protection and agents from Homeland Security Investigations.

Authorities reported that the first interdiction took place Monday in the vicinity of the Fort Lauderdale sea buoy, where a Station Fort Lauderdale boat crew and a CBP Office of Field Operations K9 unit stopped a suspected smuggling vessel.

A second vessel was intercepted on Wednesday about seven miles east of Port Everglades by a Station Fort Lauderdale law enforcement crew.

Lt. Justin Dadlani, commanding officer of Station Fort Lauderdale, said the seizure underscores the importance of coordinated enforcement efforts.

“The Coast Guard is in the business of saving lives, and every kilogram of these drugs kept off our streets represents lives saved,” Dadlani said. “I couldn’t be more proud of the professionalism of the crew and our continued partnerships with Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations.”

Officials said the interdictions form part of a broader multi-agency strategy to secure U.S. borders and disrupt transnational criminal organizations involved in narcotics trafficking and human smuggling.