U.S. Coast Guard crew members are seen in newly released video intercepting a boat that officials say was carrying about 2,300 pounds of cocaine in open waters last week.
In dramatic video of the incident in the Eastern Pacific Ocean released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a Coast Guard boat can be seen trailing another boat.
People onboard the second boat are seen hurling bags overboard before being intercepted by the Coast Guard. It was not clear from the video what the bags contained.
Nine drug smugglers tried to outrun Coasties from the US #Coast Guard #cutter STEADFAST WMEC623 18 July in the Eastern Pacific but they don't make it. About 2,300 pounds of #cocaine were seized. pic.twitter.com/XXTDeEMM4A
— Chris Cavas (@CavasShips) July 26, 2019
A description of the video, which was attributed to Petty Officer 1st Class Patrick Kelley, said the Coast Guard apprehended the alleged smugglers and seized about 2,300 pounds of cocaine from their boat.
The video comes weeks after the Coast Guard released similar footage showing a dramatic scene in which service members jump onto a moving submarine that officials said was smuggling cocaine. That incident was part of a larger $569 million drug bust.
