The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk returned to Key West, Florida, on Saturday after seizing more than 13 tons of cocaine, worth an estimated street value of over $390 million, during a three-month tour in the Pacific.
In addition to the cocaine, the ship interdicted 14 vessels smuggling controlled substances and detained 41 smugglers for prosecution in federal or partner-nation courts, according to the Coast Guard.
#BreakingNews @USCG Cutter Mohawk returns home following 3-month Eastern Pacific patrol, seizes 13 tons of cocaine. https://t.co/0kpABvgal9 pic.twitter.com/s1uYsr403W
— USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) April 22, 2017
The crew of the Cutter Mohawk partnered with multiple U.S. agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Navy, and allied nations in support of the Eleventh Coast Guard District and the Key West-based Joint Interagency Task Force South.
MH-65 Dolphin helicopters from the Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron helped extend the patrol range of the Cutter Mohawk, with one deployment seeing four vessel interdictions in less than 36 hours.
An MH-65 Dolphin helicopter, like the ones used to support the Mohawk, flies near the North Head Light in Ilwaco, Washington during a training exercise in Nov. 2016.
Photo Credit: U.S. Coast Guard photo/Petty Officer 1st Class Levi Read
Targeting the eastern Pacific, the recent deployment sought to "support the rule of law in Central America and promote stability in the region," according to the Coast Guard.
This video shows a go-fast vessel dumping bales of contraband somewhere in the eastern Pacific earlier this month, before being stopped by the Mohawk:
The efforts of the Mohawk were complimented by Cutters Spencer, Sherman and Stratton, when the Coast Guard announced that the four cutters had seized a combined total six tons of cocaine last month.
The crew will begin preparations for their next deployment in support of all Coast Guard missions, including search and rescue, maritime law enforcement, alien migrant interdiction operations, defense readiness and homeland security operations, according to the Coast Guard.
The Cutter Mohawk is the 13th and last built of the Famous-class cutters, commissioned in 1991.
