Week 10

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk seized approximately 1,000 kilograms of contraband and detained eight suspected drug smugglers 50 miles north of Panama at 12:30 a.m. on September 4, 2006.

The crew of the Mohawk spotted the 65-foot fishing vessel, Virgie M, during a routine patrol in the Caribbean Sea.

The Mohawk crew launched their small boat and a boarding team to conduct an inspection of the vessel.

During the inspection, the boarding team located cocaine hidden in one of the vessel’s fuel tanks. Eight suspects were taken into custody and later transferred to federal authorities in the United States for further investigation.

The Honduran flagged Virgie M, was transferred to the government of Honduras.

“The crew of the Mohawk has been working hard for the last 65 days and stopping several million dollars worth of cocaine from reaching America’s shores is an incredible morale boost to the crew and gives everyone onboard a real sense of purpose,” said Cmdr. John T. Davis, the commanding officer of the CGC Mohawk.

The 270-foot CGC Seneca, homeported in Boston, Mass., was also on scene assisting the crew of the CGC Mohawk.

While making a drug bust and stopping the flow of drugs into the United States is always a huge boost to morale, some members of the crew also enjoyed a visit to the rainforest before departing Panama. They canoed up the Chagres River to meet the Embera tribe and ate traditional food, danced, and enjoyed a hike through the rainforest with the tribe’s medicine man. On their way back through the river they enjoyed a pit stop at one of the many waterfalls along the river for a swim call before heading back to the cutter.

Coast Guard Seaman Lauren B. Cubitt carries a bag full of cocaine across the fantail of the CGC Mohawk in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 7, 2006.

Coast Guard Seaman Moises Nunez watches a rainbow that formed off the bow of the CGC Mohawk in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 4, 2006.

Coast Guard Seaman Lauren B. Cubitt keeps an eye out for any more fishing vessels on the horizon in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 4, 2006.

The crew of the CGC Mohawk keeps an eye on their boarding teams onboard the two fishing vessels in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 4, 2006.

The CGC Mohawk's small boat crew talks to members of the boarding team onboard a fishing vessel in the Caribbean Sea on Sept 4, 2006.

The CGC Mohawk's boarding team is reflected in the sunglasses of Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Aaron C. Harris in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 7, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Justin E. McLaury dances with a member of the Embera tribe during a morale event to the rainforest in Panama on August 31, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Dawn J. McCoy plays a flute made by the Embera tribe during a morale event to the rainforest in Panama on August 31, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Lindsay E. Jones plays soccer in the rain with children from the Embera tribe during a morale event to the rainforest in Panama on August 31, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Dawn J. McCoy helps push a canoe through a shallow spot on the crew's way to the Embera tribe during a morale event to the rainforest in Panama on August 31, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Dawn J. McCoy dives into the Chagres River in Panama on August 31, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Second Class Carson L. Corbin hands bails of cocaine down to the small boat crew from the CGC Seneca in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 7, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Justin Coylle works on the CGC Mohawk's radar in Colon, Panama on August 30, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Aaron C. Harris (left) hands a bail of cocaine down to Petty Officer Second Class Josh S. Fitzgerald for transport to the CGC Mohawk in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 5, 2006.

Crewmembers on the Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk hand bails of cocaine down to the small boat crew from the CGC Seneca in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 7, 2006.

Coast Guard Fireman Blake Castillo looks at crafts made by the Embera tribe during a morale event to the rainforest in Panama on August 31, 2006.

Coast Guard Ensign Michael P. Cortese is reflected in the alidade on the bridge of the CGC Mohawk in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 4, 2006.

The Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk's Mark 75 76mm gun, fires at an imaginary target during a drill in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 2, 2006.

Coast Guard Ensign Rebecca B. Shults receives a traditional temporary tattoo from a member of the Embera tribe during a morale event to the rainforest in Panama on August 31, 2006.

Coast Guard Petty Officer Third Class Aaron C. Harris tests his uniform for any traces of contraband before going out to board a fishing vessel in the Caribbean Sea on Sept. 4, 2006.