Coast Guard officials lent a hand in mid-April in the Port
Angeles, Washington seizure of some 342 pounds of methamphetamine worth nearly
$1.7 million.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents had received
information about suspicious bags observed near the beach on April 11. A Border
Patrol agent dispatched with his K-9 partner located multiple bags, which
contained the methamphetamine. The bags were seized and federal agents then
coordinated with partner agencies on the bust. The team included the Coast
Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, the Olympic Peninsula Narcotics
Enforcement Team, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, CBP’s Air and Marine
Operations, Clallam County Sheriff’s Office and the Royal Canadian Mounted
Police.
Chief Patrol Agent David BeMiller hailed the team effort of the
U.S. Border Patrol in partnership with other federal entities and Canadian law
enforcement partners.
“Trans-national criminal
organizations capitalizing on this vulnerable area by smuggling narcotics are a
danger to the community,” said BeMiller. “By focusing on border security, we
are enhancing national security.”
Rear Admiral Anthony Vogt, commander of the 13th Coast
Guard District, praised participating Coast Guard crews for helping to secure
the maritime border. “The operations of trans-national criminal organizations
are ongoing regardless of the COVID pandemic,” Vogt said.
Coast Guard assets and crews that contributed to the effort
include Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, Coast Guard Cutter Blue Shark crew,
Coast Guard Cutter Adelie crew, Coast Guard Station Port Angeles boat crews and
Coast Guard Air Station Port Angeles air crews.