MIAMI — The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis intercepted a go-fast boat 160 nautical miles off the coast of Colon, Panama, Dec. 17, 2010.

The intercepted boat was carrying 62 bales of cocaine weighing 3,400 pounds and worth an estimated wholesale value of $48 million.

The cutter Thetis launched a smallboat crew and was assisted by aircraft from the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection Agency, Air and Marine Branch, to stop the go-fast vessel.

Bales were found and retrieved aboard the smuggling boat by Coast Guard boarding team members.

Crewmembers of the Key West-based Cutter Thetis offloaded the 62 bales of cocaine at the Coast Guard base in Miami Beach Wednesday followed by remarks from the Thetis commanding officer, Cmdr. Douglas Schofield, regarding the seizure.

“We are ready to stop all contraband on the high seas with our partners, not only in the U.S., but those international agencies that work with us day to day,” said Schofield, of the U.S. Coast Guard.

The three suspected smugglers were transferred to authorities in Miami Wednesday.

This marks the second seizure from the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis this month.

Click here for photos:

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=1086561

Click here for video:

http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=1086564

WHO: U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Thetis crewmembers

WHAT: Crewmembers of the Key West-based Cutter Thetis will offload more than 60 bales of Cocaine at the Coast Guard base in Miami Beach followed by remarks from the Thetis Commanding Officer, Cmdr. Douglas Schofield, regarding the seizure.

The crew aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Thetis intercepted a go fast boat 162 nautical miles off the coast of Colon, Panama, Dec. 10, 2010. The intercepted boat was carrying 62 bales of cocaine weighing 3400 pounds and worth an estimated wholesale value of $48 million dollars.

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2010; 11:00 a.m. EST

WHERE: U.S. Coast Guard Base Support Unit Miami, 100 MacArthur Causeway, Miami, FL 33132

Editor’s Note: Media are asked to RSVP with the Coast Guard Public Affairs office at 305-415-6680.

MIAMI – The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba repatriated 80 Haitian migrants to Cap Haitien, Haiti, Tuesday.

The Haitian migrants were rescued from their overloaded and unstable 40-foot wooden sailing vessel approximately four miles south of Matthewtown, Bahamas, Sunday, after being located by a Coast Guard Air Station Detroit, Mich., MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew deployed to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

After a request for assistance under a bilateral agreement with the Government of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba arrived on scene, provided life jackets to the 80 Haitian migrants and, with the assistance of Royal Bahamas Defense Force (RBDF) personnel, safely embarked them on the cutter. 

“This case demonstrates the importance of readiness, forward deployment and partnerships,” said Cmdr. Edward Westfall, Escanaba’s commanding officer. “It is rewarding when all of the elements we train for and develop come together to successfully halt illicit trafficking and prevent a tragedy at sea.”

Once aboard Coast Guard cutters, all migrants are provided with food, water, shelter and basic medical attention.

The RBDF vessel HMBS Nortec destroyed the wooden sailing vessel as a danger to navigation.

For more information on how to legally immigrate to the United States, call U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) at 1-800-375-5283 or visit the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov/.

The cutter Escanaba is a 270-foot medium-endurance cutter homeported in Boston.

For high resolution photos click on the thumbnails above.

HONOLULU – Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer David Slobojan was recognized as the Coast Guard’s 29th Master Cutterman aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Kukui Dec. 3, 2010.

Slobojan, formerly of Kalispell, Mont., currently serves as the engineer officer aboard the Kukui, with a cumulative total sea time of 20 years and five months. Throughout his career, Slobojan has served on land for only two years.

Master Cutterman Slobojan joined the Coast Guard in July, 1987 and became a machinery technician.  His assignment history spans nine cutters, including the Polar Star, Elderberry, and Buckthorn. His most recent assignment was as engineer officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Fir, homeported in Astoria, Ore., where he was stationed for five years. 

The Coast Guard’s Master Cutterman program was created in April 2007, to formally recognize those members who have distinguished themselves throughout their careers with more than 20 years of sea service. The first Master Cutterman certificate was presented to Chief Warrant Officer Paul Dilger at his retirement ceremony in July 2007. While many Coast Guardsmen have proudly been named as permanent cuttermen, serving more than five years afloat, only a select few have endured the rigors of sea duty for 20 years.

The certificate was signed by Adm. Robert Papp, commandant of the Coast Guard, who has 14 years of sea service.

For more information on this news release contact the 14th Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at 808-535-3230.

For high resolution photos click on the thumbnails above.

HONOLULU – Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer David Slobojan was recognized as the Coast Guard’s 29th Master Cutterman aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Kukui Dec. 3, 2010.

Slobojan, formerly of Kalispell, Mont., currently serves as the engineer officer aboard the Kukui, with a cumulative total sea time of 20 years and five months. Throughout his career, Slobojan has served on land for only two years.

Master Cutterman Slobojan joined the Coast Guard in July, 1987 and became a machinery technician.  His assignment history spans nine cutters, including the Polar Star, Elderberry, and Buckthorn. His most recent assignment was as engineer officer of the Coast Guard Cutter Fir, homeported in Astoria, Ore., where he was stationed for five years. 

The Coast Guard’s Master Cutterman program was created in April 2007, to formally recognize those members who have distinguished themselves throughout their careers with more than 20 years of sea service. The first Master Cutterman certificate was presented to Chief Warrant Officer Paul Dilger at his retirement ceremony in July 2007. While many Coast Guardsmen have proudly been named as permanent cuttermen, serving more than five years afloat, only a select few have endured the rigors of sea duty for 20 years.

The certificate was signed by Adm. Robert Papp, commandant of the Coast Guard, who has 14 years of sea service.

For more information on this news release contact the 14th Coast Guard District Public Affairs Office at 808-535-3230.