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	Coast Guard Cutter Resolute returns home, offloads approximately $55M worth of drugs in Tampa Bay
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        <h1 class="title">Coast Guard Cutter Resolute returns home, offloads approximately $55M worth of drugs in Tampa Bay</h1>
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                 alt="The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute pose in front of interdicted drugs, Jan. 29, 2024, in St. Petersburg, FL. Drug interdiction is one of the 11 statutory missions of the Coast Guard. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)"
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            <div class="image-title">Coast Guard Cutter Resolute returns home, offloads approximately $55M worth of drugs in St. Petersburg</div>
            <div class="image-caption">The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Resolute pose in front of interdicted drugs, Jan. 29, 2024, in St. Petersburg, FL. Drug interdiction is one of the 11 statutory missions of the Coast Guard. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)</div>
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                 alt="Crew of Coast Guard Cutter Resolute saran wrap illegal narcotics on the helicopter deck, Jan. 29, 2024, in St. Petersburg, FL. The drugs, once secured, are offloaded from the cutter and given to partner agencies for destruction. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)"
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            <div class="image-title">Coast Guard Cutter Resolute returns home, offloads approximately $55M worth of drugs in St. Petersburg</div>
            <div class="image-caption">Crew of Coast Guard Cutter Resolute saran wrap illegal narcotics on the helicopter deck, Jan. 29, 2024, in St. Petersburg, FL. The drugs, once secured, are offloaded from the cutter and given to partner agencies for destruction. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg)</div>
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                 alt="Coast Guard Cutter Resolute’s law enforcement team board a suspected drug trafficking vessel on the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Dec. 10, 2023. The Resolute is homeported in St. Petersburg, Fla and was deployed to the Eastern Pacific Ocean conducting counter narcotics operations in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South. (U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Resolute photo)"
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            <div class="image-title">Coast Guard Cutter Resolute returns home, offloads approximately $55M worth of drugs in St. Petersburg</div>
            <div class="image-caption">Coast Guard Cutter Resolute’s law enforcement team board a suspected drug trafficking vessel on the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Dec. 10, 2023. The Resolute is homeported in St. Petersburg, Fla and was deployed to the Eastern Pacific Ocean conducting counter narcotics operations in support of Joint Interagency Task Force South. (U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Resolute photo)</div>
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            <div class="image-title">Coast Guard Cutter Resolute returns home, offloads approximately $55M worth of drugs in St. Petersburg</div>
            <div class="image-caption">The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Resolute unload interdicted narcotics onto the pier, Jan. 29, 2024, St. Petersburg, Florida. Armed Coast Guardsmen stood watch over the interdicted drugs to ensure security and accountability of the seized contraband. (U.S. Coast Guard video by Petty Officer 3rd Class Santiago Gomez)</div>
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    <div><b>By U.S. Coast Guard</b> <span class="date">/ Published Jan. 30, 2024</span></div>
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    <p><a href="https://www.news.uscg.mil/Press-Releases/Article/3659625/coast-guard-cutter-resolute-returns-home-offloads-approximately-55m-worth-of-dr/" target="_blank">See originally posted USCG release</a></p>

<p>ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Coast Guard Cutter Resolute (WMEC 620) and crew returned from a 60-day counterdrug patrol and offloaded approximately $55 million worth of illicit narcotics, Monday, in St. Petersburg.</p>

<p>Patrolling in support of Joint Interagency Task Force - South, the Resolute crew stopped two suspected drug trafficking ventures, preventing 6,565 pounds of marijuana and approximately 3,700 pounds of cocaine from entering the United States, and detained six suspected traffickers. The drugs were seized in the international waters of the Eastern Pacific Ocean.</p>

<p>Supporting the Resolute was an embarked MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and crew from the Coast Guard Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, and a law enforcement detachment from Tactical Law Enforcement Team - South.</p>

<p>During the patrol, Resolute’s crew met with Panama’s National Aeronaval Service to strengthen the partnership between the United States and Panama, and discuss strategies to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.</p>

<p>"The pride and dedication of Resolute’s crew was evident throughout the entirety of our patrol," said Cmdr. Matthew R. Kolodica, commanding officer of Resolute. "Despite being deployed throughout the holiday season, the crew served with professionalism. The result of their collected effort was an extremely successful patrol which kept $55 million dollars of drugs from reaching its intended destination. Every Resolute sailor and their loved ones should be proud; they are a living example of the Coast Guard’s motto, "Semper Paratus – Always Ready." It is an honor to lead such a fine ship and crew."</p>

<p>The fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea requires a unity of effort in all phases, from detection and monitoring to interdiction and apprehension, through criminal prosecutions by international partners and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in districts across the nation. Joint Interagency Task Force - South in Key West, Florida conducts the detection and monitoring of aerial and maritime transit of illegal drugs. The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific Ocean is conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 11th District, headquartered in Alameda, California, and the law enforcement phase of operations in the Caribbean is conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 7th District, headquartered in Miami. The interdictions, including the actual boardings, are led and conducted by members of the U.S. Coast Guard. </p>

<p>These interdictions relate to Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) designated investigations. OCDETF identifies, disrupts, and dismantles the highest-level criminal organizations that threaten the United States using a prosecutor-led, intelligence-driven, multi-agency approach. Additional information about the OCDETF program can be found at https://www.justice.gov/OCDETF.</p>

<p>Resolute is a 210-foot, Reliance-class medium endurance cutter homeported in St. Petersburg with a crew of 80. The cutter’s primary missions include law enforcement, search and rescue, protection of living marine resources, homeland security and defense operations, international training and humanitarian operations throughout the Western hemisphere.</p>
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