Everett-based frigate captures cocaine worth $90 million
Published 9:45 am Monday, December 8, 2008
EVERETT – A Navy frigate based in Everett on Friday captured a fishing vessel in the eastern Pacific that military officials say was carrying more than 4 metric tons of cocaine valued at more than $90 million.
The USS Rodney M. Davis, home-ported in Everett, was working with the U.S. Coast Guard and the Joint Interagency Task Force-South conducting counter narcotics operations, Navy Lt. Myers Vasquez said.
Nine suspected smugglers were arrested during Friday’s incident.
Vasquez would not disclose the home-port of the fishing vessel or the precise location of the seizure.
The Davis has a history of drug fighting work. In April 2001, the Davis helped with the largest cocaine seizure in maritime history when sailors boarded a fishing boat from Belize about 1,500 miles south of San Diego, according to a Navy Web site. The fishing vessel was carrying nearly 27,000 pounds of cocaine, about three times more than Friday’s seizure.
