VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Dependable returned home to Virginia Beach on Monday.
The crew of 77 conducted a 59-day patrol of the Eastern Pacific Ocean aiding Joint Interagency Task Force South with counter-drug and alien migrant interdiction operations.
During Dependable’s patrol, crews intercepted a go-fast vessel off the coast of Mexico that was smuggling contraband. Crews were able to seize about 1,235 pounds or $18 million worth of cocaine from the one ship.
During another bust, Dependable's Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron and disrupted a drug smuggling operation. The squadron seized an estimated 1,653 pounds of cocaine, worth about $25 million, intended for delivery to Mexico.
During its patrol, the Dependable sailed 12,904 miles, and traveled nearly as far south as the Galapagos Islands and as far west as Acapulco, Mexico.
Cutter Dependable and 26 other medium endurance cutters are slated for replacement by new Offshore Patrol Cutters in 2021.
