Coast Guard bring ashore huge cocaine bust worth $27million in Miami

The Coast Guard in Miami says one of its cutters seized cocaine worth an estimated $27 million after stopping a fishing boat in the weste Caribbean Sea on April 18.

Officials say the 2,200 pounds of cocaine will be brought ashore Friday at a Miami Beach base and transferred to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The three suspected drug smugglers caught aboard the boat will be handed over to the FBI. Their identities and nationalities weren't immediately released.

Manual labor: Crew members unload some of the packages seized in the Caribbean on April 18

According to officials, the cocaine was seized by the crew of Cutter Gallatin, a 378-foot high-endurance cutter that is homeported in Charleston, S.C.

While conducting a law enforcement patrol, the crew located a 68-foot fishing vessel in the weste Caribbean, then boarded the boat, located the cocaine and detained three suspected smugglers.

The contraband, suspected smugglers and fishing vessel were later transferred to crew members aboard the new fast response cutter Beard C. Webber that is capable of speeds in excess of 28 knots.

'Working with our interagency and inteational partners, we detained three suspected smugglers and prevented 2,200 pounds of cocaine with a value of $27 million from reaching our streets,' said Rear Adm. William D. Baumgartner, Seventh Coast Guard District commander.

Success: Gen. John F. Kelly, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Southe Command, left, speaks as Coast Guard crew members offload the bales of cocaine on Friday

Pile-up: A crew member inspects the haul

'While this particular drug seizure is a great success for our interagency partnerships, our focus remains on preventing the harm illicit drugs bring to our communities,' added Baumgartner.

'Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin’s most recent interdictions are a testament to the hard work and tenacity of the crew,' said Capt. Caleb Corson, Cutter Gallatin’s commanding officer.

'Their dedication and drive to succeed make Gallatin a formidable asset for the Coast Guard in its mission to prevent the smuggling of illegal drugs into the U.S.'

Secure: Armed guards protect the stash

Find: Rear Adm. William D. Baumgartner, Seventh Coast Guard District commander, holds up a brick of cocaine

The patrol was part of Operation Martillo, which brings together assets of several U.S. agencies as well as European and Latin American countries to stop drug smugglers.

The operation also seeks to stop movement of drug-related cash and weapons.