A Port Canaveral-based U.S. Coast Guard cutter ship was involved in a major cocaine seizure this past week.



The bust was one of several dozen resulting in a total 34,780 pounds and $466 million of cocaine found being smuggled off the coasts of Mexico, Central and South America, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.



Confidence, a 210-foot cutter based in Port Canaveral, was involved in one of the seizures of around 553 pounds of cocaine being transported through the eastern Pacific Ocean.

More:Melbourne cocaine and heroin dealer sentenced in drug death

More:Old rape kit results in new sex assault charges for man already serving time for rape

More:Trump's State of the Union: 'Fox & Friends' film 'morning after' segment in Viera

Over 17 tons of seized cocaine was offloaded at Port Everglades in Miami on Tuesday.

"The interdiction and disruption of more than 17 tons of cocaine is a result of the collaboration and coordination of multiple Coast Guard and interagency assets to address the complex maritime challenge of transnational criminal organizations," Coast Guard Cutter Forward Cmdr. Michael Sharp said.

"I am extremely proud of all the women and men that contributed to the mission success. It is a direct reflection of how the U.S. Coast Guard delivers mission excellence anytime, anywhere."

The cutter Forward is a 270-foot cutter based in Portsmouth, Virginia.

During at-sea interdictions in international waters, a suspect vessel is initially located and tracked by allied, military or law enforcement personnel.

The interdictions, including the actual boarding, are led and conducted by U.S. Coast Guardsmen. The law enforcement phase of counter-smuggling operations in the Eastern Pacific are conducted under the authority of the Coast Guard 11th District headquartered in Alameda, California, according to Coast Guard officials in a news release.

Vazquez is a breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY.

Contact Vazquez at 321-917-7491

or tvazquez@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @tyler_vazquez

Support local journalism: Subscribe to FLORIDA TODAY at floridatoday.com/subscribe.