The United States Coast Guard says it has seized an estimated 12,470 pounds of cocaine, worth approximately US$141.4 million, during various operations in the Caribbean Sea.

The Coast Guard said that the crew of its cutter Valiant, offloaded the drugs at the Coast Guard Base Miami Beach and the total was the result of six interdictions in the Caribbean Sea. It said 17 people are to face federal prosecution in US courts.

“These seizures are a testament to the Coast Guard’s continued dedication to safeguard America by securing our maritime borders,” said Acting Lieutenant Jesus Martinez Borges, a Seventh Coast Guard District enforcement officer.

“The Coast Guard and our partners work tirelessly to deny drug trafficking organisations access to smuggling routes bound for the United States. Our efforts contribute to federal investigations and prosecutions that further seek to disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal activity abroad, which threaten Americans here at home,” he added.

The Coast Guard said among the operations was one on February 2, when a Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard aircrew detected a suspicious vessel in international waters about 30 miles north of Venezuela.

The Coast Guard said that together with the Netherlands Royal Navy ship, HNLMS Groningen, it intercepted the fast vessel, apprehending five suspected smugglers and seizing about 6,220 pounds of cocaine.

The US Coast Guard said that, on Tuesday, a Dutch maritime patrol aircrew notified the HNLMS Groningen crew of a suspicious vessel in international waters about 120 miles northwest of Aruba.

The Groningen crew apprehended two suspected smugglers and seized about 545 pounds of cocaine, the US Coast Guard said.