Coast Guard crew intercepts boat with 16 bales of marijuana

[The Patriot]

MIAMI - Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Farallon located 16 bales of marijuana and two bricks of hashish from a vessel heading east of Dominican Republic, Dec. 13, 2010.

While conducting a routine patrol, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Dauntless located a 34-foot sailing vessel 15 miles east of Dominican Republic. The crew of the Cutter Farollon intercepted the vessel. During an initial safety inspection, members of the boarding team located about 16 bales of marijuana in the vessel's forward and aft compartments. The boarding team also discovered two bricks of hashish in the forward cabin. The boarding team seized the contraband and detained the three suspected smugglers aboard.

The contraband and suspected smugglers were transferred to Coast Guard Cutter Farallon and then to the Coast Guard Cutter Cushing.

The suspected smugglers, contraband and sailing vessel were transfered to Caribbean Corridor Strike Force Thursday in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico.

Coast Guard Cutter Dauntlessis a 210-foot medium endurance cutter homeported in Galveston, Texas.

Coast Guard Cutter Farallon is a 110-foot patrol boat home ported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Coast Guard Cutter Cushing is a 110-foot patrol boat home ported in San Juan, Puerto Rico.




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