News Release
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July 24, 2015
Contact: Coast Guard 7th District Public Affairs
Email: D07-SMB-PAMIAMI@uscg.mil
Office: (786) 367-7649
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Coast Guard Cutter Thetis returns home after seizing $140 million of cocaine off the coast of Central and South America
KEY WEST, Fla. —
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis returned home to Key West, Florida, Sunday after an exciting and eventful 65-day patrol operating off the coast of Central and South America.
Thetis, a 270 foot cutter based out of Key West, Florida, is a multi-mission platform. Over the last 65 days the cutter and her crew transited through the Panama Canal in order to conduct operations supporting diverse Coast Guard missions, primarily drug interdiction, in the Eastern Pacific Ocean.
As the Coast Guard nears its 225th anniversary of drug interdiction, Thetis takes pride in carrying out these missions. Early in the patrol, Thetis intercepted a go-fast vessel transporting approximately 700 kilograms of cocaine. Over the next several days the crew of the Thetis stopped three more go-fast-vessels and a fishing vessel seizing an additional 3,280 kilograms of cocaine. Towards the end of its patrol Thetis intercepted another fishing vessel carrying 670 kilograms of cocaine.
Maritime Enforcement Specialist First Class, Charles Kinnear, one of Thetis' boarding officers stated, "These high speed and highly visible boarding’s are one of the most dangerous missions we face. As a team we acted expeditiously to secure the vessels and the suspects engaged in violations of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act."
![Photo of Coast Guard Cutter Thetis crew conducting inventory of seized cocaine. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis inventories seized contraband from a suspect vessel in the Pacific Ocean. During their 65-day patrol the crew seized more than 4,600 kilograms of cocaine worth a wholesale value of more than $140 million. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class IT3 Alex Alfonso Photo of Coast Guard Cutter Thetis crew conducting inventory of seized cocaine. The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis inventories seized contraband from a suspect vessel in the Pacific Ocean. During their 65-day patrol the crew seized more than 4,600 kilograms of cocaine worth a wholesale value of more than $140 million. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class IT3 Alex Alfonso](http://www.uscgnews.com/clients/4007/645578.jpg)
In addition to conducting drug interdiction operations, the Thetis' crew had an opportunity to support the Coast Guard's Living Marine Resource mission. Coast Guard objectives include promoting the recovery of marine protected species and their habitats. Thetis crewmembers worked together to free a 50 pound green sea turtle tangled in debris and fishing line. The crew was able to save the sea turtle and clean up the line preventing future environmental hazards.
![Photo of Coast Guard Cutter Thetis crew releasing a sea turtle back into the ocean. Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis release a 50-pound Green sea turtle that was found with fishing line and debris wrapped around it. Once the debris and fishing line were removed, the crewmembers released the turtle back into the Pacific Ocean. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Anderson Photo of Coast Guard Cutter Thetis crew releasing a sea turtle back into the ocean. Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis release a 50-pound Green sea turtle that was found with fishing line and debris wrapped around it. Once the debris and fishing line were removed, the crewmembers released the turtle back into the Pacific Ocean. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Jonathan Anderson](http://www.uscgnews.com/clients/4007/645582.jpg)