DRUG DRAMAS ON THE HIGH SEAS

Coast Guard Details Cocaine, Marijuana Seizures In Past Year

On a brisk day somewhere in the eastern Pacific Ocean in January, the
378-foot long, Seattle-based high-endurance Coast Guard cutter Midgett gave
chase to a high-speed "go-fast" drug boat.

The 925 pounds of cocaine seized after boarding the small, speedy drug
boat, along with 733 pounds seized from another boat that tried to get past
the Guard through speed rather than stealth eight days later, were among 46
1/2 tons of cocaine seized by Coast Guard units along the West Coast in the
past year.

The Coast Guard also seized 20 tons of marijuana between Oct. 1, 2001, and
Sept. 30, 2002.

Although homeland defense after 9/11 became a higher priority on the Coast
Guard's long list of law enforcement and lifesaving missions, Western Coast
Guard units still managed to prevent about $4 billion in illegal drugs from
reaching U.S. streets, Coast Guard officials said.

"The Coast Guard is committed to securing America from all maritime
threats, whether they be terrorist or smugglers, and we will continue to
deny the seas to those who would harm our citizens," said Vice Adm. Terry
Cross, commander of the Coast Guard's Pacific Area.

A large chunk of the drug seizures was made during Operation New Frontier,
a three-month patrol involving several cutters. More than 19 tons of
cocaine and 5 tons of marijuana were confiscated in eight boardings.

The Midgett's Jan. 16 and 24 seizures were the third-highest single
seizures in Pacific Northwest drug interdiction history, the Coast Guard
said. Other Pacific Northwest units that contributed include:

* Dec. 4, 2001. Coast Guard Station Bellingham, which seized four duffel
bags containing about 121 pounds of marijuana from a 21-foot vessel.

* Jan. 26, 2002. The Astoria, Ore.-based cutter Steadfast, which pursued a
30-foot go-fast vessel for seven hours. After those aboard began throwing
bales over the side, Steadfast and a Coast Guard HH-65 "Dolphin" helicopter
teamed up to recover 562 bales of marijuana totaling 3,572 pounds.

Midgett also on Feb. 22 pursued a Mexican-flagged fishing vessel, the Atun
X, alleged to be trafficking contraband. As the Midgett approached, the
11-member crew scuttled the vessel. They were detained on the Midgett and
turned over to Mexican naval authorities.