cliaz Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/23/drugs.coa...reut/index.html Coast Guard hauls in 20 tons of cocaine in record bust ALAMEDA, California (Reuters) -- The U.S. Coast Guard unloaded nearly 20 tons of cocaine with a retail street value of $600 million at a California port Monday following what they called the largest drug bust at sea. The armed Coast Guard Cutter Sherman made the bust March 17 when it stopped the Panamanian cargo ship Gatun about 20 miles off a Panamanian island. On Monday, dozens of Coast Guard officials under heavy armed protection hauled bales of tightly wrapped packs of cocaine onto a pier at the service's West Coast command center near Oakland, California. "It was the largest bust in U.S. history. It's the largest interdiction on the ocean," Lt. Brock Eckel, one of the officers from the Sherman who discovered the illegal drugs, said in an interview. "It was very exciting, of course. Fifteen guys moved 20 tons of contraband in five hours, so it was very exhausting." The find aboard the Gatun, which was heading from Panama to Mexico in the Pacific Ocean, came late at night following a tip from an intelligence source, officials said. Coast Guard Petty Officer Keith Alholm estimated the U.S. street value of the record bust at $300 million wholesale, $600 million retail. The cargo ship's 14 crew members were Panamanians and Mexicans, who acted nervously but were not armed and offered no resistance when stopped, according to Coast Guard officials who were present during the inspection. The cargo ship also carried tiles and sand. "If you try to fight with the U.S. Coast Guard, you come out on the losing end. It would be futile," said Charles DeMore, head of the San Francisco office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Panamanians were handed over to Panama while the Mexicans were taken into U.S. custody, Eckel said. The drugs would be transferred to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency for eventual incineration. The Coast Guard ship had experienced mechanical difficulties during its mission and was running so low on water that the crew had stopped showering by the time of the March 17 raid, officials said. "At the end of the day there is nothing like a good drug bust to lift everyone's spirit," said the ship's captain, Charlie Diaz. "We were, of course, elated." The Alameda, California-based crew also made two smaller drug interdictions during their 101-day patrol at sea, officials said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cliaz Posted April 24, 2007 Author Share Posted April 24, 2007 (edited) figures clubfoothead would be the first to read this. Edited April 24, 2007 by cliaz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DMD Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 Somebody is going to be in very big trouble back in Columbia. I have seen Scarface. They will notice that 20 tons of cocaine is missing. Say hello to my little friend... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 "If you try to fight with the U.S. Coast Guard, you come out on the losing end. It would be futile," said Charles DeMore, head of the San Francisco office of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That's probably overstating it. But if they are that good, let the coke in and station them along the Rio Grande. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 Somebody is going to be in very big trouble back in Columbia. I have seen Scarface. They will notice that 20 tons of cocaine is missing. Say hello to my little friend... First thing I pictured were the cops in the Reno 9-11 commercials as 40 tons goes behind them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Footballjoe Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 I LOVE COKE!!! I prefer the caffine free diet stuff though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clubfoothead Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 Anyone try the ranch and herb crusted shake n bake yet? Fixing to go into the oven over here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brewer Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 (edited) So, we stopped the flow of drugs INTO Mexico? Shouldn't the Mexican coast guard be doing that? Edited April 24, 2007 by Brewer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmarc117 Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 So, we stopped the flow of drugs INTO Mexico? Shouldn't the Mexican coast guard be doing that? the mexican govt doesnt give a sh1t about anything.....just another reason to build that wall!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffeeman Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 "The drugs would be transferred to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency for eventual incineration." Hmm, I wonder how long 'eventual' means? Could it take hours, days, or weeks? If its weeks, some of it could disappear before then... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmarc117 Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 "The drugs would be transferred to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency for eventual incineration." Hmm, I wonder how long 'eventual' means? Could it take hours, days, or weeks? If its weeks, some of it could disappear before then... that will quite a trip if youre downwind..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yukon Cornelius Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 sell it and pay for the war Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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