FLORIDA, United States (CMC) — The United States (US) Coast Guard says it has interdicted 100 Haitian migrants, seized an estimated 500 pounds of cocaine and intercepted eight suspected drug smugglers during a 55-day maritime safety and security patrol in the Caribbean Sea.

“The migrants were endangered by the unsafe conditions aboard their grossly overloaded and unseaworthy vessel before being rescued by the coast guard,” the US Coast Guard said.

It said the crew also coordinated post-seizure operations after the Royal Netherlands Navy intercepted eight suspected drug smugglers and interdicted 503 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated value of US$6.8 million.

The coast guard said the joint-operations with the Royal Netherlands Navy “served to strengthen ties with international partners, and promote regional stability and security”.

“Crews executed maritime intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations while maintaining a continuous surface presence in the waters around Haiti,” the coast guard said. “These operations were essential to deterring illegal migration ventures and illicit drug smuggling, contributing directly to the shared US Coast Guard and US national objective of combatting transnational criminal organisations.”