SAINT PETERSBURG: The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Decisive seized about 1,328 kilograms of cocaine at Saint Petersburg port during a patrol near Panama and is expected to offload the narcotics.
During an Operation Martillo patrol crewmembers from the Decisive detected a 170-foot bulk freighter motor vessel northeast of Punta San Blas, Panama.
Decisive, based in Pascagoula, Mississippi, contacted the vessel then launched a smallboat crew to stop and board it based on suspicion of trafficking. Crew members located contraband, valued at $44 million that tested positive for cocaine.
Decisive boarding team members detained seven suspected smugglers and seized 1,328 kilograms of cocaine contraband.
One suspected smuggler was transferred to law enforcement officials in Panama.
The other six suspected smugglers will be turned over to federal law enforcement officials in St. Petersburg
