More than $7 million in cocaine was intercepted off the coast of Ecuador by a San Diego-based team of Coast Guard and Navy personnel.
A fishing vessel carrying about 627 pounds of cocaine was spotted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on October 6.
The Coast Guard's law enforcement detachment and the crew of the USS Curts stopped the vessel, which was towing five panga boats.
When the crew on the fishing vessel saw the Navy's helicopter, they began jettisoning bales off the side of the panga boats. The bales were later recovered and tested positive for cocaine.
Sixteen suspected smugglers were detained following the interception.
