The U.S. Coast Guard has confirmed that a Dominican national Dominican Republic died after the U.S. Coast Guard opened fire on an 11 million dollar cocaine-laden boat trying to escape from authorities.
The Coast Guard finally caught up with the vessel and took 2 other suspected smugglers, who are now awaiting federal prosecution, into custody along with 385 kilos (850 pounds) worth of cocaine.
Lt. Cmdr. John W. Beal is the Coast Guard District Seven Public Affairs Officer. He released a statement. The Coast Guard takes the loss of any life very seriously, and is currently investigating this incident according to Coast Guard policy.
The incident started on Jan. 1 when “a U.S. Coast Guard detachment deployed aboard an U.S. Navy vessel in the Caribbean Sea to conduct a counter-drug patrol identified and tried to stop a vessel suspected smuggling drugs,” according the agency.
US COAST GUARD SEIZES 2,450 POUNDS OF COCAINE WORTH $32.2 MILLION IN CARIBBEAN SEA
U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Margaret Norvell assisted in a recent cocaine seizure operation, which resulted two seizures totaling 2,450 lbs and valued at more than $32 million. The Coast Guard reports that a Dominican man died in a counter-drug operation in the Caribbean Sea.
The Coast Guard District Seven continued, “The vessel did not stop, and in accordance with the policy, authorized airborne force, including warning shots, disabling fire and a non-compliant ship suspected of smuggling illegal narcotics into international waters.”
The authorities discovered “that one of the crew members suffered an injury due to the use of force” when they boarded the vessel.
COAST GUIARD FIND 2 DEAD AND RESCUES THREE FROM OVERTURNED VESSEL near SITKA, ALASKA
The Coast Guard recently confiscated some cocaine in the Caribbean Sea.
First aid was administered by the Navy and Coast Guard before the person was transferred onto a Navy vessel. The Navy helicopter transported the crewmember to a medical facility in Dominican Republic where the Dominican national was declared dead the following day.
The Coast Guard says efforts to save the crew member who died following the incident in the Caribbean Sea were unsuccessful. (Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images)
The Coast Guard announced the death of the crew member on Thursday. This comes just days after the Coast Guard Margaret Norvell Cutter reported that it had intercepted 2,450 pounds worth $32,2 million worth of cocaine in the Caribbean Sea.
Fox News Greg Wehner contributed this report.