A U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement team has intercepted a suspected drug-smuggling vessel near Haiti, seizing approximately 3,200 pounds of marijuana with an estimated street value of $3.8 million, according to Antigua News Room.
The operation took place on Thursday, roughly eight miles off Mole Saint-Nicolas, with the boarding team operating from a U.S. Navy vessel. Authorities detained one individual during the interdiction.
The seized contraband and the suspect were subsequently transferred to Haitian officials on Sunday, as reported by Antigua News Room.
Lt. Cmdr. Cory Arsenault, the Coast Guard's liaison officer for Haiti, highlighted the significance of bilateral cooperation in executing the operation. "In close coordination with the Haitian government, the U.S. Coast Guard remains steadfast in our shared mission to safeguard the maritime approaches of the Caribbean," he said.
"Together, we are strengthening joint operations to disrupt the illegal flow of narcotics, protect vulnerable communities, and uphold the security and stability of the region," Arsenault added.
The interdiction was carried out in coordination with multiple U.S. and regional agencies, including Joint Interagency Task Force South and U.S. Southern Command.
