Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell scheduled to return home

SAN DIEGO -- Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell is scheduled to return to home port in San Diego from its two-month deployment to the Eastern Pacific Ocean, Dec. 14, 2011, at approximately 10:30 a.m.

During the deployment, Boutwell’s crew seized or disrupted 3,400 pounds of cocaine bound for the United States valued at more than $40 million in three separate events since departing Oct. 16.

This was Boutwell’s first deployment since changing homeport from Alameda, Calif., to San Diego in May.

The first smuggling attempt was disrupted Nov. 3, when the crew of the Boutwell located a suspicious fishing vessel operating approximately 155 miles off the Galapagos Islands and launched their law enforcement teams to investigate.

As Boutwell's small boats approached the vessel they observed a smaller boat, known regionally as a "panga," alongside the first vessel, with two more pangas in tow.

As the law enforcement teams approached, one of the pangas abruptly broke away from the fishing vessel but was intercepted by a Coast Guard boat crew. The panga quickly jettisoned an estimated load of 600-700 pounds of cocaine immediately upon spotting the approaching Coast Guard boats.

The second smuggling interdiction occured Nov. 4, when Boutwell's small boat crews were again investigating suspicious activity by several fishing vessels.

The Coast Guard crews surprised several vessels in the midst of an at sea rendezvous to either refuel or transfer contraband. The smugglers were forced to jettison their illicit cargo, again estimated to be approximately 600-700 pounds.

For the release concerning these two cases, please click here.

Boutwell’s most successful case began Thanksgiving Eve when the cutter approached fishing vessel El Soberano, approximately 230 miles west of Ecuador. The Coast Guard crew observed suspicious packages on board and the boarding team decided to conduct a search of the fishing vessel where they discovered 2,200 pounds of cocaine.

The boarding team detained all nine individuals aboard the two vessels and brought them aboard Boutwell and later transferred the suspects, boats and contraband to Ecuadorian officials.

Commissioned in 1968, Boutwell is the one of eleven 378-foot Secretary Class High Endurance Cutters. It is homeported in San Diego, with a crew of approximately 160.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Media representatives who wish to attend the homecoming at Naval Base San Diego should RSVP to Coast Guard Public Affairs by 10 a.m., Tuesday, at 619-278-7025.


EASTERN PACIFIC OCEAN - The crew of U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Boutwell intercepts a fishing vessel with three pangas in tow, which resulted in the destruction of 1,300 pounds of cocaine at sea while on patrol off the coast of South America Nov. 3-4, 2011. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Jason Ganem.

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