A U.S. Navy Arleigh-Burke class destroyer deployed to the southern border intercepted a major drug trafficking operation off the coast of Mexico earlier this month, according to the Navy.
On July 10, the USS Sampson seized approximately 3,439 pounds of cocaine from a high-speed smuggling vessel roughly 380 miles southwest of Acapulco. The Sampson, which deployed from Naval Base San Diego on June 3, is one of several Navy ships sent to support U.S. Northern Command operations at the border.
The suspected smugglers were operating a “go-fast” boat — a type of unregistered vessel with no national flag. A U.S. Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment Team aboard the Sampson assumed tactical control under Coast Guard authority to initiate interdiction procedures.
As the Navy’s MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter — assigned to Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 49, known as the “Scorpions” — closed in, individuals on the go-fast boat began tossing packages overboard in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence. The boat ignored warning shots, prompting the Sea Hawk to disable the vessel with precision fire.
Two Coast Guard boarding teams launched from the destroyer to recover floating packages and board the smuggling vessel. Field tests confirmed the seized cargo was cocaine.
The boat was deemed unseaworthy and a danger to maritime traffic due to its lack of navigation lights and basic safety equipment. After arresting two suspects, the Coast Guard ordered the vessel sunk.
Following the interdiction, the Sampson was returned to the tactical control of U.S. Third Fleet.
This marks the ship’s second major seizure since arriving in the region. On June 22, just weeks into its deployment, the Sampson intercepted 3.5 metric tonnes of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific.
