Category Archives: fatality

Three Apparent Fatalities in Drug Interdiction Incident

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HNLMS Groningen’s crew interdicts a suspected drug boat in the Caribbean Sea, Sept. 27, 2020. HNLMS Groningen is a Holland-class offshore patrol vessel operated by the Royal Netherlands Navy. (Royal Netherlands Navy photo)

Below is a news release from District 7. It is unusual in that smugglers apparently turned toward the boarding party and prompted a response using deadly force. It appears likely this resulted in three fatalities among the smugglers. “There were no reported injuries to the combined law enforcement team members.”

June 6, 2024

Coast Guard, Dutch suspend search for missing persons following counter drug mission in Caribbean Sea

MIAMI – The U.S. Coast Guard, Royal Netherlands Navy and Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard suspended a search for three suspected smugglers who went overboard during pursuit of a non-compliant vessel suspected of smuggling illicit narcotics in the Caribbean Sea, June 4, 2024.

Active search efforts were suspended, Tuesday evening, pending new information.

In the early morning hours on Tuesday, a Royal Netherlands Navy ship with an embarked U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment deployed for a counter drug patrol identified a vessel suspected of smuggling narcotics in international waters. The vessel failed to stop when signaled and the smuggling vessel operator instead increased speed and changed direction toward the Dutch pursuit boat, called a fast-raiding interception and special forces craft (FRISC).

The FRISC boat crew, consisting of Dutch and U.S. Coast Guard boarding team members, discharged their weapons at the go-fast vessel in self-defense and defense of others in response to the life-threatening situation. The go-fast vessel caught fire and sank, and three suspected smugglers went overboard into the water and were not recovered.

There were no reported injuries to the combined law enforcement team members.

“The Coast Guard is America’s primary maritime law enforcement agency, and our crews work hard to safely bring suspected smugglers to face federal prosecution in the United States for alleged crimes,” said Lt. Cmdr. John W. Beal, Coast Guard District Seven public affairs officer. “The missions our Coast Guard servicemembers and allied partners do every day to deny transnational criminal organizations access to maritime smuggling routes are inherently dangerous. The decision to suspend active search efforts is not one we take lightly, and the Coast Guard is working to investigate the incident in accordance with Coast Guard policy.”

Assets and crews involved in the search efforts included:

  • Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS Groningen
  • Royal Netherlands Navy ship HNLMS Pelikaan
  • U.S. Coast Guard helicopter
  • Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied helicopter
  • Kustwacht Caribisch Gebied cutter Jaguar

Detecting and interdicting illegal drug traffickers on the high seas involves significant interagency and international coordination. Once interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins, and control of the operation shifts to the U.S. Coast Guard throughout the interdiction and apprehension phases. Interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Coast Guard’s Seventh District, headquartered in Miami.

“Coast Guard reports fatality following counter drug mission in Caribbean Sea” –Coast Guard News

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Below is a press release from Coast Guard news.

Coast Guard reports fatality following counter drug mission in Caribbean Sea

MIAMI – A Coast Guard crew’s airborne use of force to stop a non-compliant vessel suspected of smuggling illicit narcotics in the Caribbean Sea resulted in a fatality, Jan. 2, 2024.

Two other suspected smugglers were apprehended and face prosecution in U.S. federal courts by the Department of Justice. The seized contraband, approximately 385 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated wholesale value of $11.1 million, will be transferred ashore at a later date.

On Jan. 1, a U.S. Coast Guard law enforcement detachment deployed aboard a U.S. Navy ship in the Caribbean Sea for a counter drug patrol identified a vessel suspected of smuggling narcotics and attempted to stop the vessel. The vessel failed to stop and Coast Guard District Seven authorized airborne use of force in accordance with policy, including warning shots and disabling fire, for a non-compliant vessel suspected of smuggling illicit narcotics in international waters.

The law enforcement boarding team arrived on scene and identified that one of the crewmembers suffered an injury as a result of the use of force. Navy and Coast Guard members performed first aid and transferred the injured individual to the Navy ship before they were medically evacuated by a Navy helicopter to higher level care ashore in the Dominican Republic. The Coast Guard later received a report from Dominican authorities that the patient, a Dominican national, succumbed to their injuries.

“The critical homeland security missions the Coast Guard conducts every day as America’s primary maritime law enforcement agency are inherently dangerous,” said Lt. Cmdr. John W. Beal, Coast Guard District Seven public affairs officer. “The Coast Guard takes any loss of life seriously and is working to investigate the incident in accordance with Coast Guard policy.”

Detecting and interdicting illegal drug traffickers on the high seas involves significant interagency and international coordination. Once interdiction becomes imminent, the law enforcement phase of the operation begins and control of the operation shifts to the U.S. Coast Guard throughout the interdiction and apprehension phases. Interdictions in the Caribbean Sea are performed by members of the U.S. Coast Guard under the authority and control of the Coast Guard’s Seventh District, headquartered in Miami.

“Speed, Blind Spots Cited as Contributing Factors in Deadly Accident Involving Coast Guard Cutter” –Military.com

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The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Winslow Griesser, homeported in San Juan, Puerto Rico, transits toward the pier in Bridgetown, Barbados, June 7, 2017. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Melissa Leake)

Military.com reports the results of an investigation into a Aug. 8, 2022 collision between USCGC Winslow Griesser and a 22-foot center console recreational boat that resulted in a fatality.

I was surprised by this,

As the Winslow Griesser left San Juan, it revved up to 29 knots — a normal practice at Coast Guard Sector San Juan to save time, limit crew fatigue and relieve other cutters on duty — even as the operational plan called for 16 knots, according to the Coast Guard.

Transiting at 29 knots does seem a bit excessive, if only because of fuel costs.

Going 29 instead of 25 gets you there 16% faster but burns about 70% more fuel, fuel that could keep you on patrol longer.

Going 29 instead of 21 knots gets you there 38 percent faster but burns almost three times the fuel.

Going 29 knots instead of 16 gets you there 81% faster but uses more than four times the fuel.

Three Chinese Fishermen Kill While Fleeing S. Korean Coast Guard

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ABC is reporting that three crewmembers of a Chinese fishing vessel that attempted to flee enforcement action by the S. Korean Coast Guard were found dead of apparent smoke inhalation after the vessel caught fire after the Coast Guard tossed flash bang grenades aboard.

Thanks to Luke for bringing this report to my attention.

Fatal Incident in Eastern Pacific Drug Interdiction

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The Eleventh District has provided a news release which I will quote in full.

A crewmember of a vessel suspected of illicit trafficking activity in the Eastern Pacific Ocean died Tuesday night during the U.S. Coast Guard’s pursuit and interdiction of the boat some 200 miles off the west coast of Isla de Coco, Costa Rica.  The exact cause of death is not known and is under investigation.

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter, operating from a Coast Guard cutter patrolling the area, pursued the suspicious vessel.  The helicopter signaled the vessel to stop but it failed to do so.  Pursuant to Coast Guard procedures, a precision marksman aboard the helicopter then fired warning shots in front of the vessel, which were ignored by the vessel’s crew.  The marksman then fired rounds into the vessel’s outboard engines, disabling the vessel and bringing the pursuit to a halt.

Once the suspect vessel stopped, a Coast Guard law enforcement team from the cutter boarded the vessel and discovered an injured suspect, who later died.

“Our efforts to stem the flow of illegal drugs are inherently dangerous.  We go to extraordinary lengths to minimize the chance of injury during these operations,” said Rear Adm. Todd Sokalzuk, Commander of the 11th Coast Guard District. “It is regrettable that in this case the crewmembers did not heed multiple orders and warnings to stop their vessel, causing us to employ tactics necessary to disable their engines.  Unfortunately, one of the crewmembers was fatally injured during this interdiction,”  he said.

An investigation is underway to review the details of Tuesday’s interdiction and determine what caused the suspected smuggler’s fatal injuries.

In 2015, a record 109 metric tons of cocaine and 316 suspects were interdicted in the Eastern Pacific by the U.S. Coast Guard and partner agencies.  In fiscal year 2016, the record pace of interdictions continues, with over 132 tons seized, and 410 suspects taken into custody.