JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine P-3 Orion Long Range Tracker aircraft performing a patrol of the Caribbean Sea aided in the recovery of approximately 3,317 pounds of cocaine valued at more than $37,625,000.

An OAM crew aboard a CBP P3 aircraft detected a suspicious go-fast style vessel about 135 miles East of Panama City, Panama. The P-3 aircrew vectored two U.S. Coast Guard cutters and two Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) aircraft to the smuggler's location.

Aircrew from the HITRON helicopter spotted suspected drug smugglers on the go-fast vessel dumping multiple bales overboard as part of efforts to evade capture. A Coast Guard Cutter arrived at the dumping area and recovered 2,259 pounds of cocaine.

The CBP crew continued to track the go-fast vessel and the Colombian Navy responded to intercept the vessel. Law enforcement detained four suspected drug smugglers and seized 1,049 pounds of cocaine.

Link: http://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/2014-08-28-000000/cbp-ma...