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, a Joint Interagency Task Force South maritime patrol aircraft detected a suspicious go-fast vessel south of Jamaica. The crew aboard the aircraft notified the crew of the Paul Clark and vectored the cutter to intercept and conduct a law enforcement boarding of the suspect 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."