The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Munro has recently returned to its home base in Alameda after a fruitful four-month patrol in the Eastern Pacific, where its 150-member crew played a significant role in undermining the workings of the drug trade. In a staggering display of efficacy, nearly 35,000 pounds of cocaine, over 3,000 pounds of marijuana, and around 140 pounds of "tuci", a ketamine-based hallucinogenic drug, were seized by the crew, with an estimated street value of $2 billion. This hefty interception was detailed in a recent press release from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Demonstrating their commitment to safety and regulation, the crew intercepted and subdued various vessels, including seven "panga" style boats and one fishing vessel that were loaded with narcotics, by firing shots toward non-compliant boats. Aided by an embarked helicopter and aircrew from the HITRON in Jacksonville, Florida, the crew conducted 200 flight evolutions, enabling them to disable four vessels by strategically shooting out their engines, therefore making the vessels easier for the Munro to control. After their patrol, the narcotics were delivered to San Diego, where they were handed over to federal agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration for destruction, as reported by the U.S. Coast Guard.
The Munro's mission was not confined to drug interdiction, as they also tackled illegal, unregulated, and unreported (IUU) fishing practices. Stationed off the coasts of Peru and Ecuador, they conducted 16 high-seas boardings and inspections on over 300 vessels, unearthing nine reported violations to the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organization (SPRFMO). These efforts underline the wide-reaching impact of the U.S. Coast Guard on maintaining maritime order and protecting the sanctity of international waters.
International cooperation was a salient feature of the Munro's deployment, illustrated by their engagement with Peruvian, Panamanian, and Ecuadorian officials. Working alongside these partner nations, such as by carrying out four inspections aboard Ecuadorian-flagged fishing vessels, the Munro set the first enactment of the U.S.-Ecuador Bilateral Agreement into motion. This multinational collaboration was key to galvanizing broader efforts to combat IUU fishing.
Amid the missions, the Cutter Munro still found time to respond to a critical search and rescue call, saving a 37-year-old individual off the Peruvian coast who had sustained critical injuries. Capt. Rula Deisher, Munro’s former commanding officer, highlighted the crew's dedication, stating, as per the U.S. Coast Guard, "Our crew is dedicated and working hard to show the commitment of the U.S. Coast Guard in combating both narcotics and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing on the high seas." Furthermore, as the patrol drew to a close, the Munro held a change of command ceremony, where Capt. James O'Mara IV succeeded Deisher. Capt. O'Mara, now at the helm, tactfully pointed out the crew’s eagerness to celebrate their fruitful patrol with their loved ones, saying, "You won't find a crew more excited than this one, ready to be home and reconnect with families."
The Munro exemplifies the advanced capabilities of National Security Cutters, equipped with a complete array of sophisticated technology for command and control, communications, and surveillance, as well as housing aviation support facilities that amplify their reach and efficacy in conducting various high-stake operations. With an endurance lasting between 60 and 90 days, these cutters serve as pivotal platforms for complex defense, law enforcement, and national security missions, which involve cooperation among multiple agencies. The cutters' base, Coast Guard Base Alameda, houses four of these pivotal National Security Cutters, ready to deploy wherever their presence is paramount.
