VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WVEC) - The Coast Guard Cutter Dependable returned home Thursday to Virginia Beach, following a two-month patrol.
"We had two good seizures while we were over there," said Commanding Officer Rula Deisher.
Deisher said they patrolled the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Crews seized more than 5.5 tons of cocaine. It weighs almost as much as two Honda Civics and holds a street value of $146 million.
"I’ve done seven years at sea, and this is one of the more productive patrols I've had," Deisher said.
Deisher noted the Coast Guard is not catching criminals alone.
"We are working with the Mexican Navy, Guatemalan Navy, and the El Salvador Navy and all of our Central American partners to help them build so they have the same capacity."
The Dependable will take a two-month break, and then head back out on the water in August.
"A lot of people on board with family and young children, and I know they are very happy to take the drugs off the streets so now their kids are a little safer out there," Deisher explained.