Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba Returns to Portsmouth After Caribbean Drug Seizures

29 September 2026
Edited By: Haley McQueen

The crew of the US Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba (WMEC 907) returned to their home port in Portsmouth following a 60-day deployment in the Windward Passage.

A Coast Guard Cutter Escanaba (WMEC 907) small boat crew approaches a suspected smuggling vessel in the Caribbean Sea, Aug. 29, 2026. The tactical boarding and search of the vessel resulted in the seizure of approximately 2,082 pounds of marijuana, valued at more than $2.4 million. (Image credit: Petty Officer 2nd Class Nadia Sands, US Coast Guard)

Operating under the US Coast Guard Atlantic Area and the Coast Guard’s Southeast District, the Escanaba crew focused on the preservation of life at sea, the deterrence of unlawful maritime migration, and the denial of resources to transnational criminal organizations transiting the Caribbean Sea.

On August 29, Escanaba, assisted by an embarked law enforcement detachment from Tactical Law Enforcement Team (TACLET) Pacific, interdicted a vessel carrying approximately 2,082 pounds of marijuana, valued at more than $2.4 million.

“I am so proud and fortunate to be a part of the crew of CGC Escanaba; the support and leadership of our command, along with the tireless effort of the crew, made this interdiction happen,” said Petty Officer 1st Class Douglas Strong, the deck watch officer who identified the smuggling vessel and served as the pursuit boat coxswain. “The excellent watch-standing and quick, crucial decisions enabled success.”

In addition to the interdiction, Escanaba‘s crew coordinated with the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Richard Dixon (WPC 1113) to conduct an at-sea transfer of cocaine, weighing approximately 3,288 kilograms. Escanaba offloaded both illicit drug shipments in Port Everglades, Florida, advancing Coast Guard objectives to combat transnational criminal networks and enhance regional stability.

During the patrol, Escanaba also conducted an underway replenishment with the commercial support vessel Homeland Security Cutter–Ocean (HSC-Ocean). The evolution provided the cutter with supplies needed to remain on station in the Windward Passage.

“I am incredibly proud of the Escanaba crew for their exceptional performance and resilience throughout this high-tempo deployment,” said Capt. Nicholas Seniuk, commanding officer of Escanaba. “Whether executing complex law enforcement operations with the support of our TACLET partners or coordinating vital mid-patrol logistics with the HSC-Ocean, the crew displayed the utmost professionalism. Their dedication directly prevented hazardous voyages and saved lives in the Windward Passage.”

Escanaba is a 270-foot Famous-class medium endurance cutter commissioned in 1987. The cutter’s primary missions include search and rescue, law enforcement, maritime border security, and national defense operations throughout the Western Hemisphere.