Key West Coasties Keeping Busy

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Pot worth $43 million seized in Caribbean, Coast Guard says



Sun Sentinel

4:47 a.m. EDT, March 13, 2012
The U.S. Coast Guard hauled in more than 3,500 pounds of marijuana after spotting a go-fast boat in the Caribbean, the agency announced.

The interdiction carried out as part of "Operation Martillo" took place on March 3 when aerial surveillance led the Coast Guard Cutter Northland to the 35-foot go-fast vessel.

According to the Coast Guard, personnel from the Northland boarded the boat, detained four suspected smugglers and seized 54 bales of marijuana.

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The agency says the drugs have a wholesale value of $43,254,000.

"Operation Martillo" is part of the U.S. government's effort to cut into Central American transit routes for illicit drugs, weapons and cash.

The cutter Northland is a 270-foot medium-endurance vessel out of Portsmouth, Va. It was assisted in the interdiction by the Coast Guard Cutter Pea Island out of Key West, the Coast Guard said.