February 20, 2005  Pacific Ocean
US Coast Guard seizes more than 8,600 pounds of cocaine during two incidents in the same day

The Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton, home ported in San Diego, seized more than 8,600 pounds of cocaine Sunday, February 20, 2005.

Hamilton detected a suspicious vessel being refueled by a fishing vessel approximately 225 miles north of the Galapagos Islands. The 378-foot cutter deployed its Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) HH-68 Stingray helicopter, which intercepted the fleeing go-fast vessel.

The Stingray crew observed four persons onboard dumping bags from the Colombian flagged go-fast and received permission to disable the non-compliant vessel. The Stingray helicopter disabled four of the vessels outboard engines forcing the vessel to stop. Hamilton's law enforcement team boarded the vessel and seized 119 bails of cocaine weighing more than 6,000 pounds.

Later that same day, Hamilton assisted the 378-foot Coast Guard cutter Midgett, home ported in Seattle, in stopping another go-fast vessel. Hamilton re-traced the go-fast's path through the ocean recovering 53 bails of cocaine weighing more than 2,600 pounds.

Source: US Coast Guard