$1.3M in pot and cocaine found on suspected smuggling boat off Miami: Coast Guard

An estimated $1.3 million worth of cocaine and marijuana were found on a suspected drug smuggling boat that was stopped off Miami, U.S. Coast Guard officials said Friday.

The Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge’s crew stopped the boat around 2:15 p.m. Saturday about 8 miles offshore of Miami, officials said.

A search of the vessel turned up 174 pounds of cocaine and 17 pounds of marijuana, worth an estimated $1.3 million, officials said.

Two suspected smugglers were taken into custody for further investigation by Homeland Security Investigations.

“Our crew is committed to keeping drugs off the streets and protecting America’s borders,” Lt. Zane Carter, commanding officer, Coast Guard Cutter Richard Etheridge, said in a statement. “I could not be prouder of my crew’s professionalism and their seamless integration with our partner agencies.”