cannabisnews.com: Coast Guard Nets Record Narcotics Seizures





Coast Guard Nets Record Narcotics Seizures
Posted by FoM on October 18, 1999 at 18:48:33 PT
U.S.-Bound Confiscation Doubled in FY99 
Source: APB News
Coast Guard officials say several successful operations and new high-tech attack helicopters helped double the number of drug seizures at sea during the 1999 fiscal year. 
Between October 1998 and this month, 111,689 pounds of pure, uncut cocaine and 61,642 pounds of marijuana were taken from ships and high-speed cigarette boats, called "go-fasts," favored by mostly Colombian smugglers. The seizures were up 96 percent for marijuana and 35 percent for cocaine since 1998. Total seizures increased 52 percent over the prior year, authorities said. Three significant seizures netted a staggering 46 tons of cocaine, and the other 8 tons were recovered from other interdiction efforts, Coast Guard Comdr. Jim McPherson told APBnews.com. He said the service also attributes its success to the ongoing practice of deploying law enforcement details to Navy ships, along with improved cooperation with foreign governments and the availability of better intelligence. Choppers had important role Additionally, the specially outfitted MD-90 Enforcer choppers recently unveiled at a ceremony here at the Department of Transportation have been operating secretly in the Caribbean basin for 11 months and helped capture nearly 7 tons of marijuana and cocaine. The aircraft are outfitted with a bevy of "non-lethal" weapons, including nets that when dropped can do unspecified damage. Other tools on the leased Boeing and McDonnell Douglas choppers, McPherson said, include "sting bombs," which function like flash-bang devices that emit rubber skin-stinging pellets; "malodorents," or stink bombs; and sharpshooters equipped with .50-caliber sniper rifles that can disable a go-fast's motors. Laser sights are used on Coast Guard machine guns, but McPherson said lasers are not used to destroy go-fast engines. Force escalates with noncompliance Why use non-lethal force with foreign drug runners? McPherson said the Coast Guard has a strict use-of-force policy and uses the minimum force necessary "to compel compliance." First Coast Guard cutters warn boats they want to stop with sirens, then hand signals to attempt to thwart penetration into U.S. waters. But, he added, "We escalate as their noncompliance continues." Air effort is only for drug traffickers The Coast Guard has never had to use lethal force in sea-borne drug interdiction, nor has it ever taken a single casualty on this oceanic field of battle, McPherson said. McPherson also stressed that the new choppers, which land on Coast Guard cutters, will not be used to enforce any U.S. laws unrelated to drug smuggling. "This is not designed or intended for anybody other than drug runners and go-fasts." Oct. 18, 1999 By James Gordon Meek James Gordon Meek is an APBnews.com staff writer in Washington (james.meek apbnews.com).
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Comment #9 posted by dddd on April 18, 2001 at 00:24:25 PT
Coastie
I dont have anything bad to say about people who want to join the CG.AndI agree that it is ridiculous for people to stereotype the people who do servein the CG.People should be judged by who they are,and how they act.Justin leeseems to think that all those who critisize,or disagree with the governmentswar,are idiots.There are "idiots"everywhere you go,and there are good peopletoo.When you join the CG,you "serve" the whims,and policies of the government andlawmakers,(this is where you'll find alot of idiots,in government).In my opinion,"serving" the government has gotten out of hand,when this "service",involves the furthering of absurd government policies that are against its' own citizens.I think there are far too many people "serving" time in prison too.The only people who are not properlyserving,are the ones who are in government,who are not serving the people,but areserving the ones with the most money.I have several friends,and relatives who are in the CG,and they are good people.I dontthink you should take the "brainwashed" comment personally,but rather step back andlook at the big picture........peace.............dddd
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Comment #8 posted by observer on April 17, 2001 at 22:14:53 PT
Cannabis Prohibition is Immoral
i have heard people who say the anti-drug laws are "immoral." everyone needs to be careful when throwing those weighted words around.seeProhibition is Immoral http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/media/wayburn.htm1989, Thomas L. Wayburn, Ph.D. (introduction to, The Case for Drug Legalization and Decontrol in the United States)Malevolent Prohibition``. . .for a crime to occur, there must be a victim. Any use of force to control personal behavior, when there is no victim or potential victim, is immoral. . . ''http://www.unquietmind.com/prohibition1.htmlProhibition Is Immoral, 1998 letter to the WSJhttp://mir.drugtext.org/map/letters/1998/06/lte44.htmlMy friends, it is as wrong, yes immoral I say, to jail people for using cannabis now, as it was when Queen Vicoria took cannabis; it is as wrong to deprive adults of life and liberty simply because they used cannabis now, as it was when in 1621 English clergyman Robert Burton suggested that cannabis is useful in treating depression in his book, The Anatomy of Melancholy.There's nothing immoral about taking cannabis.There's everything immoral about jailing peaceful adults who take cannabis.
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Comment #7 posted by observer on April 17, 2001 at 20:23:59 PT
Sysiphus
 Between October 1998 and this month, 111,689 pounds of pure, uncut cocaine and 61,642 pounds of marijuana were taken from ships and high-speed cigarette boats, called "go-fasts," favored by mostly Colombian smugglers. Funny . . . that has a familiar ring, doesn't it?Ah yes, I remember now. Compare the above with this: During the 1920's Congress tasked the Coast Guard with enforcing the 18th Amendment, necessitating a dramatic increase in resources and funding for the Coast Guard. The massive effort needed to curtail the substantial level of alcohol smuggling required the single largest appropriation for personnel and new ship construction in its history. In addition, the Navy transferred more than 20 WWI-era destroyers and minesweepers for conversion to the Coast Guard's battle with rum-runners . . .http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-o/g-opl/mle/drugs.htm``The only armed force exempted from Posse Comitatus is the Coast Guard. Then a part of the Treasury Department, it served well in Prohibition enforcement between 1920 and 1933. In so doing, it pursued its historic function suppression of smuggling - a thankless task in which its performance was hampered by deep-seated public resistance. . . . The records of its involvement with Prohibition, its accomplishments in the current effort, and its historic role in the suppression of smuggling suggest the military has been a strong partner in a daunting task. Because of present proper legal restrictions, it may not be able to expand its role.''-- Alexander Monroe, retired captain in the Naval Reserve assigned to the office of the command historian, U.S. Joint Forces Command, where he wrote 'Caribbean Barrier,' a history of counterdrug operations by the Atlantic Command (1989-97).http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01/n578/a09.html . . . the Coast Guard's battle with rum-runners, which ended with the 21st Amendment repealing Prohibition.http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-o/g-opl/mle/drugs.htm Did you ever hear of the legand of Sysiphus?
please read: An Earlier 'War On Drugs' (6/2000)
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Comment #6 posted by Coastie on April 17, 2001 at 18:33:20 PT:
miseducation
it seems to me that just about everyone who has something bad to say about people who want to join the coast guard, haven't a clue about what the military is all about. it isn't about being brainwashed or about being rambo. also, people join the coast guard for many reasons; it doesn't mean they think all the CG policies are great. does everyone who works for a private corporation think all the policies of that company are great? most likely not. i've been in the coast guard for almost a year, and i can tell you i haven't met anyone who's been brainwashed by the CG or the drug interdiction policies, and i have only met one rambo, and he doesn't even take himself seriously.i think for all the "open-minded" and "free-thinking" pot-heads out there need to become truly open-minded and realize that individuals are individuals, and shouldn't be judged by who they work for. should the person working at footlocker be held accountable for the nike sweatshops in southeast asia? certainly not.one more thing: i haven't seen it on this page, but i have heard people who say the anti-drug laws are "immoral." everyone needs to be careful when throwing those weighted words around. 
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Comment #5 posted by observer on January 10, 2001 at 11:38:12 PT
Congratulations 
 Ill be joining you in mid feb after boot camp and plan to be in the law enforcement field, hopefully with the drug interdiction programCongratulations on your successful brainwashing! I'm sure you'll make a fine addition to "the forces of law and order" who are only "out to save the children." It is important that you never think about or question authority of any kind, so I'm sure you'll be well equiped for your future career. Don't forget your life-jacket.
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Comment #4 posted by justin lee on January 10, 2001 at 11:29:35 PT
A waste of time?????
It seems to me that the coast guard are not the idiots here. They are seizing almost 20 billion $$ in street value in drugs. HOW is that a waste of our time and money. IF you have a better idea, then you go out and do it.WAY TO GO COAST GUARD. Ill be joining you in mid feb after boot camp and plan to be in the law enforcement field, hopefully with the drug interdiction program or gunnery mate. So to you idiots saying it is a waste of time, please shut up and get a life. Thank you
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Comment #3 posted by dddd on December 26, 2000 at 06:26:27 PT
Yes
Yea,Rambo,,I got a better idea.What about taking another look at the drug laws?That would make more sense than the idiocy of trying to buy their way out of it,by trying to seal the borders.Rambo,do you think our drug laws are reasonable?..............dddd
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Comment #2 posted by Rambo_k9 on December 26, 2000 at 06:04:39 PT:
You have a better idea??!!!
  I guess you have a much better idea on how to spend the money and enforce the laws?? I'm sure your challenging life threatening life style is too busy to fight crime and violence. I'm sure as you sit and toke up you would like to see it leagalized. Thats it just give up and don't try to make anything any better. 
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Comment #1 posted by Alexandre Oeming on October 19, 1999 at 07:11:24 PT:
We want to pump ... your ego up!
These poor idiots. They really think the pitiful amounts they seize make any dent in the drug trade, whatsoever. And we end up footing the bill! Zealotry has no bottom line, apparently. It's such a waste of our own potential ... to destroy ourselves like this. *sigh*
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