Coast Guard marksman shoots out engines of fleeing panga and detains three suspected smugglers

Thu, 2013-12-12 06:05 PM
Seized marijuana
U.S. Coast Guard crews intercepted a panga boat with approximately 7,100 pounds of marijuana and three suspected smugglers aboard in international waters about 155 miles southwest of San Diego on December 10.

It was the second time this month that Coast Guard and partner agencies have thwarted a major marijuana smuggling operation in the area.

In the most recent incident, an aircrew aboard a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft initially detected the 30-foot panga and multiple assets, including the Coast Guard Cutters Active and Edisto and a 45-foot response boat crew from Station San Diego responded.

When Coast Guard vessels converged on the area a brief pursuit ensued in which the smugglers refused to stop. An aircrew from the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron that was operating from Active used warning shots, followed by engine disabling fire to render the panga inoperable. A CBP Office of Air and Marine multi-role enforcement aircraft crew also flew on the case to provide continuous aerial coverage.

"All our crews, especially those of the cutter Active and the Helicopter Interceptor Tactical Squadron, should be proud of their accomplishments," said Capt. Michael Eagle, 11th Coast Guard District Chief of Response. "In a little more than a week, Active has been involved in stopping two major shipments of illegal drugs. The Coast Guard aviators and interceptor boat crews who tracked down, warned, and then shot out the engines of the fleeing pangas in these two cases used their law enforcement training, tools, and techniques to safely apprehend five suspected smugglers and stop the delivery of more than six tons of marijuana,” he said.

The 74 bales, three suspects and panga from Tuesday’s interception were taken to San Diego and turned over to the San Diego Marine Task Force, which includes federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.

This is the second major interdiction in the area in December, resulting in the seizure of more than 13,100 pounds of marijuana. The first occurred on Dec. 2 when Coast Guard crews interdicted a panga boat with 201 bales of marijuana and two suspected smugglers aboard approximately 140 miles southwest of San Diego.

http://gsnmagazine.com/node/39517?c=border_security