The Coast Guard and the United States Navy have conducted a successful interdiction operation in the eastern Pacific, seizing 588 kilograms of cocaine aboard the destroyer USS Sampson. The operation occurred on August 11 in international waters, when the American vessel identified a suspicious boat that showed signs of smuggling. After receiving permission, a helicopter and an inflatable boat were deployed to intercept the vessel, which attempted to evade the operation while its occupants threw packages into the sea.
After firing warning shots, the USS Sampson's helicopter disabled the boat's engine, which led to the recovery of 12 bundles of alleged narcotics and the arrest of two suspects. The drug traffickers' vessel, which began to take on water, could not be towed due to sea conditions, so it was decided to sink it to avoid risks. The USS Sampson, operating under United States Northern Command, continues its maritime interdiction mission to combat drug trafficking and illicit activities in the region.
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