275-million narcotic haul
Days after losing a crew member at sea near Mexico, Coast Guard Cutter returns with 275-million narcotics haul
After months at sea, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche returned to San Diego on Thursday, with over 37,000 pounds of confiscated cocaine and one less crew member, lost at sea, officials said. The offloading of their massive narcotics haul -- which weighs about as much as a full grown humpback whale and is estimated to be worth 275 million -- comes days after search efforts were ended for 23-year-old Seaman Bryan Lee, according to the Coast Guard. Lee, who hails from Rancho Cordova, was discovered missing at 6:45 a.m. last Tuesday while the Waesche was conducting a routine counter-drug patrol around 300 nautical miles south of Mexico. Search crews dedicated over 190 hours to scouring 19,000 nautical miles for Lee using drones, aircraft and vessels, before suspending the search on Monday. The confiscated cocaine was netted through 11 drug interdiction missions off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America from December through mid February.
- North America > Mexico (0.84)
- South America (0.26)
- North America > United States > California > San Diego County > San Diego (0.26)