Sea creatures have often had to be rescued from plastic and fishing nets and wires. However, this particular sea turtle (video above) was rescued from an unusual man-made enemy in the ocean – packets with $53 million worth of cocaine.
The US Coast Guard Cutter Thetis crew spotted a “debris field” while on patrol on November 19 and discovered the large loggerhead turtle floating in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. It was entangled in rope that was attached to more than 800 kilograms of the Class A narcotic.
Mark Krebs, the pursuit mission commander, said in a statement that his team noticed the sea turtle and saw significant chafing from the lines on his neck and flippers. They immediately got to work, carefully cutting the lines wrapped around the creature and finally freed him. They also recovered over 75 feet of line to prevent further entanglement of sea creatures.
The Coast Guard rescued the turtle on their 68-day counter-drug patrol in the Eastern Pacific, as part of Operation Martillo. By the end of the patrol, the crew had seized 6,755 kg of cocaine and more than six kg of marijuana, with a combined value of more than $135 million. They also apprehended 24 suspected smugglers.
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