More than five tons of cocaine seized by the U.S. Coast Guard were offloaded at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale Wednesday.
The drugs were seized during stops of five suspected smuggling boats and the recovery of two floating bale fields off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America, officials said.
In addition to more than 12,500 pounds of cocaine, 50 pounds of marijuana were seized. The Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton brought the drugs to Port Everglades.
"The men and women aboard Hamilton, and those on all of the cutters who intercepted these illicit drugs, epitomize excellence and dedication," The Hamilton's executive officer, Cmdr. Eric Helgen, said in a statement. "These cutter crews spend over half of the year deployed in the fight against transnational criminal organizations who spread misery throughout Central and South America."
