ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WDAM) - The crew of Coast Guard cutter Diligence offloaded Monday about 8,700 pounds of cocaine worth an estimated $64.5 million.

Diligence was deployed in support of Joint Interagency Task Force – South.

That was part of the Coast Guard’s District Southeast, where crew members intercepted more than 10,000 pounds of illicit narcotics.

“I am remarkably proud of the crew and appreciative of the efforts of JIATF-S and Coast Guard District Southeast,” said Cmdr. Colin McKee, Diligence commanding officer. “This joint effort helped us prevent more than four tons of illegal drugs from entering the United States.”

The seized contraband was a result of two interdictions in international waters of the Caribbean Sea.

On Aug. 7, Diligence’s crew detected and boarded a suspic

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