In collaboration with the U.S. Coast Guard, the guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman (FFG 59) interdicted 1,775 kg of cocaine, worth an estimated wholesale value of approximately $59 million, in international waters of the Eastern Pacific, May 16.
The suspected smuggling vessel was spotted during a routine patrol of Eastern Pacific international waters in support of Operation Martillo. Kauffman’s embarked U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) boarded the vessel and seized the illicit cargo. Three crew members of a suspected narcotic-trafficking vessel flagged out of Costa Rica were detained.
Kauffman took custody of the three crew members and recovered the illicit cargo, some of which was jettisoned overboard before the boarding of the vessel.
The Oliver Hazard Perry-class guided-missile frigate USS Kauffman is currently deployed to the U.S. 4th Fleet area of operations in support of Operation Martillo.
[mappress mapid=”16076″]
Image: US Navy