Article: U.S. Anti-Drug Force Seizes Belize-Flagged Vessel with Cocaine

15 May 2001

Article: U.S. Anti-Drug Force Seizes Belize-Flagged Vessel with Cocaine

Vessel's 10-member crew from Russia and Ukraine, say officials

Washington -- A Belize-flagged fishing vessel carrying almost 12,000 kilograms of cocaine has been seized in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, the U.S. Customs Service announced.

In a May 14 statement, Customs said the vessel is the second cocaine-laden Belize-registered ship in two months to be brought to the port of San Diego. U.S. officials said the cocaine seized in both cases has a street value of more than $500 million.

In this latest incident, a Customs Service plane discovered the suspicious vessel in late April when it was observed "fishing" in an area of the Pacific that is not used for fishing.

Aircraft flying under the direction of the U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force West tracked the vessel, the Svesda Maru, for several days, after which it was intercepted and seized by the U.S. Coast Guard. After a five-day search, cocaine was finally discovered in a secret compartment of the vessel. A sample of the contraband was subsequently removed and analyzed, and laboratory results confirm that it tested positive for cocaine.

The crew of the vessel consisted of 10 individuals from Russia and Ukraine. The vessel and its crew are now in Coast Guard custody.

The Joint Interagency Task Force West, based in San Diego, was created to process, investigate and prosecute such maritime cocaine cases. Task force members include officers from the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Customs Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Coast Guard.