KEY WEST, Fla. – Crews with the U.S. Coast Guard offloaded more than 6,000 pounds of marijuana in Key West on Wednesday, stemming from two different Caribbean Sea interdictions, authorities said.
In the first interdiction, the U.S. Coast Guard said a crew found a 30-foot go-fast vessel during a routine patrol of the Caribbean Sea.
Recommended Videos
Using an over the horizon small boat, officials said the boarding team approached and witnessed the suspected smugglers aboard the go-fast vessel jettison packages of contraband overboard.
The boarding team subsequently apprehended the suspects and recovered 69 packages, which later tested positive for marijuana.
In another interdiction, a crews detected a Jamaican fishing vessel jettisoning packages overboard. Authorities said the suspects were apprehended and 55 packages recovered later tested positive for marijuana.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, the total contraband was approximately 6,250 pounds with a wholesale value of more than $5.5 million.