WHO: Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark
What: Offload approximately 4,100 pounds of marijuana
Where: Coast Guard Base Miami Beach, 100 MacArthur Causeway, Miami Beach, Florida
When: 8 a.m. Wednesday
Media wishing to cover the offload should arrive at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach no later than 7:30 a.m. Wednesday to be granted access to the installation. Media wishing to attend must RSVP with he Coast Guard 7th District public affairs office at 786-367-7649 to ensure access to the offload.
MIAMI - The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Paul Clark is scheduled to offload approximately 4,100 pounds of marijuana worth an estimated wholesale value of $3.7 million at Coast Guard Base Miami Beach, Wednesday.
While on a routine patrol, the cutter Paul Clark’s crew detected a suspicious go-fast vessel south of Jamaica. Watchstanders from the Coast Guard 7th District command center directed the Paul Clark’s crew to intercept and conduct a law enforcement boarding of the vessel.
Once aboard the go-fast vessel, the Coast Guard boarding team removed 103 bales of contraband that later tested positive for marijuana.
"This is another great achievement for the Paul Clark crew and highlights what the Coast Guard's newest cutter can do to help reduce the negative impacts illicit trafficking has on the United States and our Caribbean neighbors," said Lt. Lloyd Belcher, commanding officer aboard the cutter Paul Clark. "We prevented these drugs from coming ashore, but we also hope the prosecution of the suspected smugglers can begin to dismantle the transnational criminal organizations that profit from these illicit activities. That's the ultimate goal."