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Vessel transporting $51M in cocaine intercepted near Anegada

- thanks to collaboration by US Coast Guard & [British] VI authorities
The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge crew offloaded approximately 1,700 kilograms of seized cocaine at Coast Guard Base San Juan Friday, September 3, 2021. Photo: US Coast Guard
VI CONSORTIUM

SETTING POINT, Anegada, VI- The US Coast Guard has announced that the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge crew offloaded approximately 1,700 kilograms of seized cocaine at Coast Guard Base San Juan Friday, September 3, 2021, following the disruption of a go-fast vessel smuggling attempt by Coast Guard and [British] Virgin Islands authorities near Anegada a few days prior.

This disruption and seizure is the result of multi-agency efforts involving the Caribbean Border Interagency Group and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force, the Coast Guard said. The seized cocaine has an estimated wholesale value of approximately $51 million dollars.

According to the release, during a routine patrol the night of August 27, 2021, the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge responded to the sighting of a suspect go-fast vessel, in waters northeast of the [British] Virgin Islands. Coast Guard watchstanders in Sector San Juan directed the launch of a Coast Guard MH-60T aircraft from Air Station Borinquen to vector cutter Richard Etheridge to the go-fast vessel’s position. Additionally, Coast Guard and [British] Virgin Islands authorities maintained communication to interdict the suspect go-fast vessel.

Suspicious Cargo thrown overboard

As the cutter Richard Etheridge closed in on the go-fast vessel, the smugglers proceeded to jettison their cargo and flee the area at high speed. Afterwards, the Coast Guard helicopter crew proceeded to assist cutter Richard Etheridge in locating the jettisoned cargo. In total, the crew of cutter Richard Etheridge recovered 57 bales, which tested positive for cocaine.

“Despite the challenging sea state conditions and thanks to the close collaboration and coordination with our Royal Virgin Islands Police partners, our crews did an outstanding job in disrupting a major shipment of cocaine and keeping it from ever reaching the streets,” said Captain Gregory H. Magee, Sector San Juan commander.

“Our strong partnerships, as in the case of the British Virgin Islands and island nations throughout our area of responsibility, are key to achieving safe and secure maritime borders from drug trafficking and other smuggling threats in the Eastern Caribbean.”

“This is a great example of the close working relationship between the US and the UK overseas territories,” said Detective Inspector Mike Jones, Head of Intelligence for the Royal Virgin Islands Police.

“The excellent work of the US Coast Guard forced the crew of the go-fast vessel to jettison their cargo. We will continue to work closely with all agencies and partners in order to disrupt and detect the movement of narcotics, illegal money and people trafficking," Jones added.

19 Responses to “Vessel transporting $51M in cocaine intercepted near Anegada”

  • 51M (05/09/2021, 13:07) Like (7) Dislike (36) Reply
    Let the dope pass thru its better for me n u
  • 51M-2 (05/09/2021, 13:31) Like (7) Dislike (16) Reply
    Go fast with 57 bales.
    Dem man telling lies. Let de ting pass nuh
  • question (05/09/2021, 13:56) Like (10) Dislike (4) Reply
    So did the Coast Guard helicopter follow the "go-fast boat" and catch the boat & crew? If not, why not?
    • Jones (06/09/2021, 15:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Hopefully they sank it, that saves tax payers money on a trial and jail
  • good job (05/09/2021, 13:56) Like (6) Dislike (2) Reply
    Hope all was recovered and or not float up ashore.
  • Veracity (05/09/2021, 15:05) Like (9) Dislike (2) Reply
    The photo of the 57 bales on the dock and the go fast boat story do not add up. Either the photo or the story is wrong. The only boats capable of going fast(planing) with 4000 lbs of cargo aboard are the ferries. So what is the truth?
    • The TRUTH (05/09/2021, 17:51) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
      The truth is there are plenty of go-fast boats capable of carrying more than 57 bales. The following boat had over 2,300kg onboard:
      ansvibe.com/2019/07/29/radical-footage-of-criminals-dumping-bags-of-cocaine-during-high-speed-boat-chase-video/

  • coi (05/09/2021, 15:54) Like (5) Dislike (10) Reply
    when will the united kingdom launch the inquiry as to why her governor and her commissioner of police not making a greater effort towards border security

    some suspect because of the class of persons mostly using the virgin islands sea water the governor or commissioner of police continue to drag their feet

    under commissioner of police Frazer and commissioner of police Malone the territory had several police road blocks however when Morris the commissioner of police associated with the Kingdom ALL road-blocks came to an end because non-blacks began to voice concerns and very soon after that the head of police from the UK put an end to the valuable police stop and search



  • lmao (05/09/2021, 16:30) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    They were better off not running and surrender to the law. Whoever they are, they are responsible for messing up whoever product. Bet they gone ghost. Don’t bite no more than you can chew. Big problems coming behind this.
  • st thomas (05/09/2021, 17:45) Like (3) Dislike (17) Reply
    When they will stop the Haitians from coming to the usvi
  • K (05/09/2021, 18:29) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    We all know that here is the gate way for drugs this is nothing strange me son
  • @ COI (05/09/2021, 18:47) Like (9) Dislike (1) Reply
    DO YOU HAVE SELECTIVE AMNESIA ? SOMBODY SAID WE DON'T NEED ANY NAVY SHIP , WE CAN PROTECT OUR OWN BORDER ALL BY OURSELVES ( PLUS WE GOT $$$$ TO SPARE
  • Things to talk about (05/09/2021, 19:46) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    1700 hundred kilos worth $51 million but Tortola seized 2000+ kilos worth over
    $250 million something it right somebody cannot count or they marking up the value to make it look more than what it really is.

    But I know for sure a kilos of cocaine in new York is a lot less than a hundred thousand but in the BVI it's a hundred thousand makes no sense
  • jah (05/09/2021, 23:24) Like (6) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hush all mouth US found the stache not bvi..also it was found in bvi water not US..don't feel proud local..be thankful because your country doesn't have the capability yet they fighting for independence..what a shame!
  • the rock (06/09/2021, 04:59) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    It seems the bost got away, what am I missing here, so now all the smugglers got to do is dump the stuff and they are free?
    • @the rock (06/09/2021, 07:19) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
      If you really question these things to consider when the big hauls are caught they say we don’t have the capability to destroy them....

      and the popo under the Governor takes it on to a secret location out of the VI.... one has to wonder what proof is their that it’s destroyed & not on its way to Europe?

      They seem to have endless supplies of drugs in the clubs & that’s where the old world crime bosses call the shots from, logically.
  • ok (06/09/2021, 09:23) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    when the cost guard find humans at sea they usually land them off here for our people to repatriate to their native land: when its comes drugs they take it home(money money)


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