CG DILIGENCE

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Diligence offloaded nearly $65M in illicit narcotics interdicted in the Western Caribbean Sea

The 'Diligence (WMEC 616)' offloaded approximately 8,700 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $64.5 million at the Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg on Sep 22, 2025. The 'Diligence' was deployed in support ofthe Joint Interagency Task Force – South to the Coast Guard District Southeast area of responsibility and interdicted more than 10,000 pounds of illicit narcotics. The seized contraband was a result of two interdictions in international waters of the Caribbean Sea. On Aug. 7, the 'Diligence’s crew detected and boarded a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 136 miles southwest of Negril, Jamaica. Diligence’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing 1,500 pounds of marijuana. The contraband was transferred to and offloaded by Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton (WMSL 753), as part of the largest quantity of drugs offloaded in Coast Guard history, in Port Everglades, on Aug. 25. On Sep. 6, a maritime patrol craft spotted a suspicious go-fast vessel approximately 240 miles north of Panama. Diligence’s boarding team interdicted the vessel, seizing more than 8,700 pounds of cocaine. The cocaine was offloaded by the 'Diligence' and transferred to case agents in St. Petersburg. Report with photos: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/4314313/coast-guard-offloads-nearly-65m-in-illicit-narcotics-interdicted-in-the-western/

Diligence returned home after couter-drug operatioons in the Gulf of Mexico and Carribean Sea

The 'Diligence (WMEC 616)' returned to its home port in Pensacola on May 21, 2025, following a 61-day patrol in the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, where the crew conducted counter-drug operations and fisheries boardings to enforce U.S. federal law at sea and protect America’s maritime boundary. The 'Diligence' was deployed in support of Joint Interagency Task Force – South (JIATF-S) while underway in the Seventh Coast Guard District’s area of responsibility. The crew worked closely with international and interagency partners to disrupt drug trafficking ventures in the Caribbean Sea and interdicted two separate drug-smuggling vessels, suspected of drug trafficking, and provided logistical support to partners for several additional interdictions. On April 12, the 'Diligence' had interdicted a vessel suspected of drug smuggling. After a pursuit and use of disabling fire, crew members gained control of the go-fast style vessel. After retrieving 28 bales of jettisoned marijuana, the crew of Diligence seized approximately 1,660 pounds of marijuana in total and apprehended the three suspected smugglers on board. On April 23, a military patrol aircraft located a disabled sailing vessel approximately 170 miles off Colombia. The 'Diligence' boarded the vessel and seized approximately 40 pounds of cocaine. During the patrol, the 'Diligence' worked with the Dutch patrol vessel HNLMS 'Groningen (P 843)', U.S. Navy assets, Tactical Law Enforcement Team – Pacific (PACTACLET), and the Coast Guard Cutters 'Campbell (WMEC 909)', 'Venturous (WMEC 625)' and 'John Patterson (WPC 1153)'. While underway in the8 th Coast Guard District’s area of responsibility, the crew conducted fisheries enforcement missions while underway in the Gulf of Mexico. While patrolling near the maritime boundary line near Mexico, law enforcement teams conducted five boardings of U.S. commercial fishing vessels. These inspections ensured compliance with federal safety standards and fishery management regulations, supporting the Coast Guard’s mission to promote safe and sustainable fishing practices.

Coast Guard Cutter offloaded more than 4,125 pounds of cocaine with an assessed street value of $54 million in Port Everglades

On Sep 9, the 'Diligence' offloaded more than 4,125 pounds of cocaine with an assessed street value of approximately $54 million in Port Everglades. Coast Guard crews, working alongside interagency and international partners, seized the illegal drugs in the international waters of the Caribbean Sea during three separate interdictions. Along with the illicit narcotics, 11 suspected smugglers were apprehended and will face prosecution in federal courts by the U.S. Department of Justice. The following assets and crews were involved in the interdictions: - Royal Navy ship HMS Trent (P 244); - U.S. Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team Pacific (PAC-TACLET); - U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Napier (WPC 1115); - U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (CBP-AMO); - Joint Interagency Task Force South (JIATF-South). Report with photo: https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3900888/coast-guard-offloads-more-than-54-million-in-illegal-narcotics-interdicted-in-c/