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Have you ever wondered what a $28 million cocaine bust looks like? On Tuesday in Miami, it looked like 3,715 pounds of the illegal drug divided into more than 1,000 packages. All of it was concealed in a relatively small yacht. The three suspected drug smugglers may have thought the USCG’s small boat station wouldn’t check as thoroughly. But now they’re in jail and awaiting trial. (Pictures embedded below).

“Halifax, Canada – July 20, 2012: Logo of the United States Coast Guard, on the side of the tall ship USCGC Eagle, docked in Halifax, Nova Scotia during the Tall Ships 2012 festival. USCGC Eagle is one of just two active commissioned sailing vessels in American military service. The modern-day USS Eagle was originally a German barque named SSS Horst Wessel which fought in the Second World War. It was commissioned into the United States Coast Guard in 1946 after the U.S. took the ship as reparations following the war. USCGC Eagle is now used to train cadets and serves as a goodwill ambassador. The ship takes one long training cruise and two shorter cruises each year.”

The Coast Guard stopped the small boat in the waters off Miami Beach. After officers docked the boat at a pier, a CBP K-9 unit alerted to drugs on board. When authorities searched, they discovered 1.5 tons of cocaine hidden throughout the vessel.

How officials identified the yacht

How did the Coast Guard know which boat to stop? Officials say only that U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations assisted with the operation. They likely provided intelligence.

“This was the largest USCG Small boat station cocaine seizure since 1995,” Lt. Matthew Ross, Coast Guard Station Miami Beach commanding officer, said in a statement. “Protecting our maritime borders from illicit drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations remains one of our highest priorities. The Coast Guard and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners remain vigilant in our shared efforts to keep our maritime borders safe by preventing illicit narcotics from reaching our communities.”

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Staff Writer

Henry Cesari

Henry Cesari is a MotorBiscuit Staff Writer who brings his deep interest in vintage cars, trucks, and motorcycles to the site. Having restored his first classic car at just 16 years old, Henry has wrenched on everything from overland campers to Japanese motorcycles and even pre-war Bugattis. He’s an avid attendee at local car shows in the Detroit area and genuinely enjoys connecting with fellow auto enthusiasts. Henry earned a Bachelor’s in Anthropology and English from the University of Vermont.

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