Coast Guard Reports Record Annual Counterdrug Progress

The Coast Guard concluded its most productive counterdrug-operations year in its history on Sept. 30, when fiscal year 2016 ended. In total, the service and its partners seized more than 416,600 pounds of cocaine – with a street value exceeding $5.6 billion – during the 12-month period. The previous high mark for cocaine seizure was 367,700 pounds, in fiscal year 2008. Coast Guard crews also took 585 suspected drug smugglers into custody in 2016, 465 of whom were transported to the U.S. for prosecution. Anti-drug operations for 2016 concluded Oct. 27, when the Alameda, Calif.-based cutter Waesche offloaded 39,000 pounds of cocaine in San Diego.