A U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement team deployed aboard the Navy’s USS Billings, supported by a Coast Guard cutter and helicopter, intercepted a suspected drug smuggling vessel approximately 8 miles off Mole Saint-Nicolas, Haiti, on Thursday.
With permission from the Haitian government, the boarding team’s investigation led to the discovery of roughly 3,200 pounds of marijuana, valued at approximately $3.8 million. One suspect was detained. The contraband and the suspected smuggler were transferred to Haitian authorities on Sunday.
“In close coordination with the Haitian government, the U.S. Coast Guard remains steadfast in our shared mission to safeguard the maritime approaches of the Caribbean,” said Lt. Cmdr. Cory Arsenault, the Coast Guard liaison officer for Haiti. “Together, we are strengthening joint operations to disrupt the illegal flow of narcotics, protect vulnerable communities, and uphold the security and stability of the region. Our partnership reflects a continued commitment to collaboration, vigilance, and the rule of law.”
Assets Involved
The interdiction involved the following assets and crews:
- Coast Guard Cutter Venturous
- USS Billings
- U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team South, LEDET 405
- Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 48, Detachment 3
- Joint Interagency Task Force South
- Coast Guard Southeast District watchstanders
Broader Context
Eighty percent of interdictions of U.S.-bound drugs occur at sea, highlighting the critical role of maritime interdiction in combating the flow of illegal narcotics. These operations require extensive interagency and international coordination.
Joint Interagency Task Force South, based in Key West, handles detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime drug transit. Once an interdiction is imminent, the U.S. Coast Guard takes control for the law enforcement phase. Operations in the Caribbean Sea fall under the authority of the U.S. Coast Guard Southeast District, headquartered in Miami.
This seizure underscores the ongoing U.S.-Haitian partnership to secure regional waters and protect communities from the impacts of drug trafficking.
Source: Official U.S. Coast Guard Southeast Public Affairs release
