{"id":42095,"date":"2019-07-11T22:25:52","date_gmt":"2019-07-11T22:25:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/uncategorized\/2019\/07\/11\/vp-pence-lauds-coast-guard-crew-for-massive-cocaine-haul\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T19:35:34","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T19:35:34","slug":"vp-pence-lauds-coast-guard-crew-for-massive-cocaine-haul","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/navytimes\/news\/your-navy\/2019\/07\/11\/vp-pence-lauds-coast-guard-crew-for-massive-cocaine-haul\/","title":{"rendered":"VP Pence lauds Coast Guard crew for massive cocaine haul"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/atype-video-jwplayer>
Crew from the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro captured a sub in the Pacific last month carrying 16,000 pounds of cocaine.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

Vice President Mike Pence stopped by Naval Air Station North Island<\/a> near San Diego on Thursday to honor the crew of the Coast Guard cutter Munro<\/a>, which offloaded nearly 20 tons of cocaine seized during recent counter-narcotics operations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flanked by bricks of cocaine nabbed by the Munro as well as the cutters Vigorous<\/a> and Mohawk<\/a>, Pence lauded the Coasties for \u201cthis momentous occasion and this historic offload.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI came here today on behalf of your commander in chief and the American people to say thank you for a job well done,\u201d Pence told the crew. \u201cAnd welcome home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The patrol by the three cutters across large swaths of the Eastern Pacific confiscated more than 18,000 kilograms of cocaine \u2014 plus 423 kilograms of marijuana \u2014 that officials estimate is worth $569 million on the street.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Officials also released harrowing footage of a drug bust at sea that featured Munro\u2019s crew members leaping onto a narco-sub as it tried to flee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Crew members on board the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Munro\u2019s 35-foot Long Range Interceptor small boat supervise the intentional sinking of suspected drug-smuggling boats on May 17 in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. (Coast Guard)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

During his address, Pence touted President Donald J. Trump\u2019s support for the Coast Guard, telling the crew they \u201chave a commander in chief<\/a> who will always have your back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Critics of the president haven\u2019t always shared that view and point to Coast Guard members and their families who went without pay<\/a> for part of January because of a partial government shutdown<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was sparked by White House demands for $5.7 billion to fund fortifications along the international border with Mexico, appropriations Capitol Hill refused to allocate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Less than 20 miles south of Naval Air Station North Island runs a large steel wall separating California from the Mexican city of Tijuana, a barrier Trump wants to extend across much of Arizona, New Mexico and Texas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pence said that the White House would continue to build a wall along the border and compared the Coast Guard\u2019s cocaine interdiction operations to seizures of other narcotics such as heroin by U.S. Customs and Border Protection<\/a> agents on land.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAnd make no mistake about it, these two issues are linked,\u201d Pence said. \u201cThe proceeds from cocaine sales are often used to fund opioid trafficking as well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t