A U.S. Coast Guard crew recently returned home to Boston after helping to seize more than 12,000 pounds of cocaine in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The Cutter Seneca returned to Boston Friday after a 93-day patrol with three other coast guard vessels, according to a release from the Coast Guard.
During Seneca's mission, the four ships helped intercept three drug smuggling vessels transporting cocaine bound for the United States from South America, officials said.
The ships seized cocaine in five different cases. The Seneca was responsible for two cases of cocaine, seizing approximately 2,800 pounds in total, the Coast Guard said.
The Cutter Tahoma seized 2,500 pounds of cocaine, the Cutter Midgett seized 5,700 pounds and the Cutter Valiant seized 1,000 pounds of cocaine.
The street value of the drugs was nearly $174 million dollars, according to the Coast Guard.
During the seizures, nine suspected narcotics traffickers were arrested.
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The Seneca, which has a crew of 100, also rescued 22 Haitian migrants.
"I am exceptionally proud of this crew. Over the course of the last three months they rose above the challenges of conducting operations at sea, persevered through many personal sacrifices and showed an unwavering dedication to serving our nation," Coast Guard Cmdr. John Christensen said in the statement.
