MIAMI, United States (CMC) — The United States (US) Coast Guard on Wednesday said the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Tampa at Port Everglades offloaded about 3,750 pounds of cocaine and marijuana, worth an estimated US$12.3 million, seized in the Caribbean Sea.

The US Coast Guard said the seized contraband was the result of two interdictions in the Caribbean Sea by the crew of USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul and their embarked Navy helicopter and Coast Guard law enforcement detachments.

“We train diligently and stand ready to execute interdiction missions at moment’s notice,” said Commander Steven Fresse, Minneapolis-Saint Paul commanding officer.

“To be able to make an immediate impact so early on during our maiden deployment is a testament to the hard work and skills of the ship’s crew,” he added.

Commander Walter Krolman, Tampa commanding officer, said Fleet Week Fort Lauderdale was “a great opportunity for our Coast Guard, Navy and Marine Corps crews to showcase our sea services to communities here in South Florida.

“Today’s offload demonstrates the value of our collaborative joint force operations far out to sea in protecting and defending Americans here at home from threats abroad,” he added.

The Coast Guard said detecting and interdicting illicit drug traffickers on the high seas involves significant interagency and international coordination.

It said the Joint Interagency Task Force-South in Key West, Florida, conducts the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs.

“Once an interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the US Coast Guard for the interdiction and apprehension phases,” the US Coast Guard said.

Interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by members of the US Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Seventh Coast Guard District, headquartered in Miami.