AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard crews along with Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) federal law enforcement authorities seized approximately $190,000, a semi-automatic weapon, and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition from inside a single engine yola type vessel, northwest of Puerto Rico Wednesday night. 

At midnight Wednesday, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected a vessel approximately 60 miles northwest of Puerto Rico. The vessel had no visible registration, flag or markings.

CBP personnel coordinated with watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan, Puerto Rico, to intercept the vessel at sea. A Coast Guard Air Station Miami aircrew and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Cushing were diverted to interdict the vessel.

Cutter Cushing boarding team members located approximately $190,000, a semi-automatic weapon, and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition.

Cushing’s boarding team took custody of the five suspects aboard the vessel, currency, and weapon and transported them to Marine Interdiction Group of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation Thursday at the Mayaguez Sea Port, Puerto Rico.

In July 2006, CBIG was formally created to unify efforts of the Coast Guard, CBP, ICE, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Puerto Rico, and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA) in their common goal of securing Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands against illegal maritime traffic and gaining control of our nation’s Caribbean borders.

The concept of CBIG resulted from a March 2006 collaboration of local Homeland Security components that effectively stemmed the increased flow of traffic across the Mona Passage between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

The Coast Guard Cutter Cushing is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in San Juan.

AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard crews along with Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) federal law enforcement authorities seized approximately $190,000, a semi-automatic weapon, and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition from inside a single engine yola type vessel, northwest of Puerto Rico Wednesday night. 

At midnight Wednesday, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected a vessel approximately 60 miles northwest of Puerto Rico. The vessel had no visible registration, flag or markings.

CBP personnel coordinated with watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan, Puerto Rico, to intercept the vessel at sea. A Coast Guard Air Station Miami aircrew and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Cushing were diverted to interdict the vessel.

Cutter Cushing boarding team members located approximately $190,000, a semi-automatic weapon, and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition.

Cushing’s boarding team took custody of the five suspects aboard the vessel, currency, and weapon and transported them to Marine Interdiction Group of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation Thursday at the Mayaguez Sea Port, Puerto Rico.

In July 2006, CBIG was formally created to unify efforts of the Coast Guard, CBP, ICE, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Puerto Rico, and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA) in their common goal of securing Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands against illegal maritime traffic and gaining control of our nation’s Caribbean borders.

The concept of CBIG resulted from a March 2006 collaboration of local Homeland Security components that effectively stemmed the increased flow of traffic across the Mona Passage between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

The Coast Guard Cutter Cushing is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in San Juan.

AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico – Coast Guard crews along with Caribbean Border Interagency Group (CBIG) federal law enforcement authorities seized approximately $190,000, a semi-automatic weapon, and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition from inside a single engine yola type vessel, northwest of Puerto Rico Wednesday night. 

At midnight Wednesday, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Maritime Patrol Aircraft detected a vessel approximately 60 miles northwest of Puerto Rico. The vessel had no visible registration, flag or markings.

CBP personnel coordinated with watchstanders at Coast Guard Sector San Juan, Puerto Rico, to intercept the vessel at sea. A Coast Guard Air Station Miami aircrew and the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Cushing were diverted to interdict the vessel.

Cutter Cushing boarding team members located approximately $190,000, a semi-automatic weapon, and approximately 300 rounds of ammunition.

Cushing’s boarding team took custody of the five suspects aboard the vessel, currency, and weapon and transported them to Marine Interdiction Group of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation Thursday at the Mayaguez Sea Port, Puerto Rico.

In July 2006, CBIG was formally created to unify efforts of the Coast Guard, CBP, ICE, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Puerto Rico, and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces of Rapid Action (FURA) in their common goal of securing Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands against illegal maritime traffic and gaining control of our nation’s Caribbean borders.

The concept of CBIG resulted from a March 2006 collaboration of local Homeland Security components that effectively stemmed the increased flow of traffic across the Mona Passage between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

The Coast Guard Cutter Cushing is a 110-foot patrol boat homeported in San Juan.

PITTSBURGH — The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to establish a safety zone on the Allegheny River, Saturday, in preparation for a fireworks display sponsored by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Navigation will be restricted extending the entire width of the river from the Roberto Clemente Bridge, mile marker 0.6, to the Rachel Carson Bridge, mile marker 0.8.  The safety zone will be in effect from 5:30 p.m., until 6:45 p.m.

Mariners shall not enter into, depart from, or move within the safety zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh or a designated representative. Questions concerning this matter should be directed to Chief Chris Blank at 412-644-5808 ext. 2504 between 7:30 a.m., and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays. After normal working hours, concerned mariners may contact Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley at 1-800-253-7465 or the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 on the day of the event for more information.

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PITTSBURGH — The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to establish a safety zone on the Allegheny River, Saturday, in preparation for a fireworks display sponsored by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Navigation will be restricted extending the entire width of the river from the Roberto Clemente Bridge, mile marker 0.6, to the Rachel Carson Bridge, mile marker 0.8.  The safety zone will be in effect from 5:30 p.m., until 6:45 p.m.

Mariners shall not enter into, depart from, or move within the safety zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh or a designated representative. Questions concerning this matter should be directed to Chief Chris Blank at 412-644-5808 ext. 2504 between 7:30 a.m., and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays. After normal working hours, concerned mariners may contact Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley at 1-800-253-7465 or the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 on the day of the event for more information.

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PITTSBURGH — The U.S. Coast Guard is scheduled to establish a safety zone on the Allegheny River, Saturday, in preparation for a fireworks display sponsored by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust.

Navigation will be restricted extending the entire width of the river from the Roberto Clemente Bridge, mile marker 0.6, to the Rachel Carson Bridge, mile marker 0.8.  The safety zone will be in effect from 5:30 p.m., until 6:45 p.m.

Mariners shall not enter into, depart from, or move within the safety zone unless specifically authorized by the Captain of the Port Pittsburgh or a designated representative. Questions concerning this matter should be directed to Chief Chris Blank at 412-644-5808 ext. 2504 between 7:30 a.m., and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, except on federal holidays. After normal working hours, concerned mariners may contact Coast Guard Sector Ohio Valley at 1-800-253-7465 or the Coast Guard on VHF-FM channel 16 on the day of the event for more information.

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LOS ANGELES-The U.S. Coast Guard and Baywatch Malibu are searching for a missing kayaker near Malibu, Calif., Dec. 29, 2011.

The missing man was reportedly assisting another kayaker when he vanished from sight approximately 1.5 miles east of Point Dume, Malibu.

Baywatch units reportedly found an empty kayak containing a life jacket and a paddle in the search area.

The Coast Guard received the initial call from Baywatch at around 3 p.m.

Shortly after notification, a rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Los Angeles was dispatched to the  area to aid in the search.

LOS ANGELES-The U.S. Coast Guard and Baywatch Malibu are searching for a missing kayaker near Malibu, Calif., Dec. 29, 2011.

The missing man was reportedly assisting another kayaker when he vanished from sight approximately 1.5 miles east of Point Dume, Malibu.

Baywatch units reportedly found an empty kayak containing a life jacket and a paddle in the search area.

The Coast Guard received the initial call from Baywatch at around 3 p.m.

Shortly after notification, a rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Los Angeles was dispatched to the  area to aid in the search.

LOS ANGELES-The U.S. Coast Guard and Baywatch Malibu are searching for a missing kayaker near Malibu, Calif., Dec. 29, 2011.

The missing man was reportedly assisting another kayaker when he vanished from sight approximately 1.5 miles east of Point Dume, Malibu.

Baywatch units reportedly found an empty kayak containing a life jacket and a paddle in the search area.

The Coast Guard received the initial call from Baywatch at around 3 p.m.

Shortly after notification, a rescue boat crew from Coast Guard Station Los Angeles was dispatched to the  area to aid in the search.

MIAMI – Today, the U.S. Coast Guard announced the seizure of more than two tons of cocaine from a vessel in the Gulf of Mexico earlier this month.

A Coast Guard deployable specialized forces team operating from the USS Oak Hill (LSD 51) discovered more than two tons of cocaine during counter narcotics operations in the Gulf of Mexico, Dec. 2.

“This has been a great experience for us, being able to leverage the incredible capabilities of the Oak Hill,” said Cmdr. Rob Landolfi, Coast Guard Tactical Law Enforcement Team South’s commanding officer.  “Our joint efforts during this deployment have resulted in the seizure of over two tons of cocaine.”

Oak Hill intercepted the motor vessel Mr. Geo in international waters off the Caribbean coast of Honduras. The Coast Guard boarding team recovered a shipment of cocaine, weighing more than 4,400 pounds worth an estimated street value of $245 million.

“We were conducting our Amphibious-Southern Partnership Station mission when we received the tasking to help execute the interdiction,” said Cmdr. David Bauer, Oak Hill’s commanding officer. “I am proud that the crew of Oak Hill was able to assist in the seizure.”

Southern Partnership Station is an annual deployment of U.S. ships to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility in the Caribbean and Latin America. The mission’s primary goal is information sharing with navy’s coast guards and civilians in the region. 

The Coast Guard deployable specialized forces team was comprised of law enforcement personnel from Tactical Law Enforcement Team South, Pacific Area Tactical Law Enforcement Team and Maritime Safety and Security Team San Diego (91109).

111209-N-0000X-005 Coast Guard law enforcement team, USS Oak Hill seize cocaine shipment

GULF OF MEXICO – Bales of cocaine, seized by a Coast Guard law enforcement team, are shown ready for transport off of the USS Oak Hill, Dec. 9, 2011. Working jointly with the Oak Hill’s crew, the Coast Guard team, comprised of members from Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team, Tactical Law Enforcement Team South and Maritime Safety and Security Team San Diego (91109), interdicted more two tons of cocaine from the motor vessel Mr. Geo. U.S. Navy photo.

111209-N-0000X-048 Coast Guard law enforcement team, USS Oak Hill seize cocaine shipment

GULF OF MEXICO – USS Oak Hill crewmembers prepare bales of cocaine, seized by a Coast Guard law enforcement team, for transport off of the USS Oak Hill, Dec. 9, 2011. Working jointly with the Oak Hill’s crew, the Coast Guard team, comprised of members from Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team, Tactical Law Enforcement Team South and Maritime Safety and Security Team San Diego (91109), interdicted more two tons of cocaine from the motor vessel Mr. Geo. U.S. Navy photo.

111209-N-0000X-087 Coast Guard law enforcement team, USS Oak Hill seize cocaine shipment

GULF OF MEXICO – USS Oak Hill crewmembers prepare bales of cocaine, seized by a Coast Guard law enforcement team, for transport off of the USS Oak Hill, Dec. 9, 2011. Working jointly with the Oak Hill’s crew, the Coast Guard team, comprised of members from Pacific Tactical Law Enforcement Team, Tactical Law Enforcement Team South and Maritime Safety and Security Team San Diego (91109), interdicted more two tons of cocaine from the motor vessel Mr. Geo. U.S. Navy photo.