CGC Escanaba seizes 963 pounds of cocaine

Written by: LT Connie Braesch

While on a law-enforcement patrol about 21 miles south of Isla de Providencia, Colombia, Sept. 17, CGC Escanaba seized more than 900 pounds of contraband from a fleeing 35-foot center-console vessel suspected of smuggling drugs.

During pursuit, the suspects on the vessel began throwing items overboard before beaching the vessel, fleeing on foot and evading capture. Escanaba crewmembers retrieved 15 bales and two backpacks of contraband from the water, which tested positive for cocaine.

The contraband was offloaded and transferred to U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency agents Friday at Base Support Unit Miami.

Escanaba is a 270-foot medium-endurance Coast Guard cutter homeported in Boston.