A viral video from the Coast Guard revealed how service members wrapped up a swift and effective drug arrest against smugglers in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
On April 17, a small-boat crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Kimball (WMSL 756) undertook the operation, per the military branch, and made sure the perpetrators were brought to justice.
The clip, which was taken by Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Wiley, displays how the Kimball rapidly descended on the suspected drug smugglers, with the service members barking commands that led to a quick surrender and eventual arrest.
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“Hands up!” the service members can be heard yelling in Spanish at the suspects on the alleged smuggling vessel.
Then, the men were ordered onto their stomachs with their hands spread, and they quickly complied.
Afterwards, the crew boarded the vessel and went on to arrest the suspects.
“The fifth interdiction during Kimball’s patrol is a great example of how complex it is to stop illegal activities on the open ocean,” the Coast Guard said of the video taken by Petty Officer 3rd Class Austin Wiley. “Kimball started with aerial surveillance then engaged tactical law enforcement, and then sank the vessel so it wouldn’t be a hazard to other vessels.”
The crew of the Kimball, through its five operations, reportedly managed to recover a staggering $214 million worth of drugs and offloaded them in San Diego, said the Coast Guard.
“Illegal drugs pose a dangerous threat to the American people, and the men and women of the Coast Guard do everything in their power to interdict drugs before they reach our shores,” the Coast Guard added.
