A law enforcement crew from U.S. Coast Guard Station Miami Beach seized approximately 3,715 pounds of cocaine last week from a suspected smuggling vessel.

The Tuesday seizure, made 2 miles east of Government Cut — a manmade shipping channel between Miami Beach and Fisher Island — is worth an estimated $28 million.

“This was the largest USCG small boat station cocaine seizure since 1995,” said Lt. Matthew Ross, commanding officer of Coast Guard Station Miami Beach in a service news release.

The Coast Guard crew worked with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations and Homeland Security Investigations during the operation.

“Protecting our maritime borders from illicit drug trafficking and transnational criminal organizations remains one of our highest priorities,” said Ross. “The Coast Guard and our federal, state and local law enforcement partners remain vigilant in our shared efforts to keep our maritime borders safe by preventing illicit narcotics from reaching our communities.”

When the boat reached the pier at Coast Guard Station Miami Beach, search teams discovered more than 1,000 hidden packages of cocaine. Federal agents took the three people on board into custody.

“Disrupting maritime narcotics smuggling like this demonstrates the power of teamwork in safeguarding our nation and holding criminals accountable,” said Andy Blanco, executive director of CBP Air and Marine Operations Southeast Region. “Smugglers should be warned that our whole-of-government team is watching, and they will be caught.”

Coast Guard

U.S.