The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Stratton returned to Alameda Wednesday after a long mission gathering more cocaine than any other Coast Guard crew in recent memory.
The Stratton has been on a 114-day drug patrol of the Pacific Ocean. During the course of the mission its crew seized 33 tons of cocaine worth more than $1 billion, according to the Coast Guard.
The drugs were seized in 23 different interceptions and dropped off at Naval Base San Diego earlier this week.
Two interceptions of self-propelled semi-submersible vessels in July yielded about a third of the seized cocaine, according to the Coast Guard.
In addition to the drug seizures, the Stratton crew took part in search-and-rescue missions, surveillance and community outreach.
The cutter pulled into port Wednesday morning where its crew was reunited with their families.
