USCGC Chase comes home after successful 3-month Counter Narcotics patrol

DATE: March 27, 2009 6:40:56 PM PDT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

		Eleventh Coast Guard District
NEWS RELEASE	DATE: CONTACT:	March 27, 2009 LTJG Joseph H. Herd (619) 556-6530 x264
USCGC Chase comes home after successful Counter Narcotics patrol
SAN DIEGO, Calif. -- The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Chase returned to homeport here, Thursday, after a successful three month deployment conducting law enforcement operations off the coast of Central and South America. The deployment concluded with the disruption of two go-fast vessels, the seizure of one self-propelled semi-submersible and the confiscation of 12.8 tons of cocaine, worth more than $3.56 million. Chase was the first Coast Guard cutter to fire warning shots from an Over-the-Horizon small boat at a go-fast vessel during pursuit. Chase conducted an at sea transfer of the seized narcotics with the Mexican Navy vessel Romero, completely transferring eight tons of cocaine and four suspected narco-terrorists in just under five hours. Chase also provided aid the disabled U.S. sailing vessel Blew Moon off the coast of Columbia after the sailing vessel lost steering capability and energized their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon. Chase arrived on scene and provided 30 gallons of fuel and conducted a safety inspection of the vessel. Chase is a 378-foot high endurance cutter homeported here and deploys 185 days a year in support of law enforcement and search and rescue in the Eastern Pacific and the Bering Sea. ###