COAST GUARD IN KEY WEST SEIZE MARIJUANA, SUSPECTED SMUGGLERS

A U.S. Coast Guard cutter fired more than 50 shots at suspected drug
smugglers during a chase Saturday before authorities arrested them and
seized 1,000 pounds of marijuana.

Cutter Key Largo was in international waters near Cuba on late Friday when
a go-fast boat was spotted inside Cuban territorial waters. The Coast Guard
shadowed the 35-foot go-fast until it moved into international waters and
then pursued the boat.

When the go-fast refused to stop, the cutter fired 20 warning shots and
then 35 rounds from a .50-caliber machine gun into the boat's engine to
disable it.

A Coast Guard crew boarded the go-fast and found 20 packages of marijuana
and three suspected smugglers, all Bahamian citizens.

The drugs and the suspects were turned over to U.S. Customs and the boat
was towed to Key West.