Coast Guard Unveils Historic Cocaine Seizure at Port Everglades

Coast Guard crews offload nearly 50,000 pounds of seized cocaine at Port Everglades, the largest single-operation haul ever recorded by a Coast Guard cutter.

Port Everglades, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- The U.S. Coast Guard is announcing what it calls a historic drug seizure at Port Everglades. Crews offloaded nearly 50,000 pounds of cocaine this week, a haul officials value at more than $360 million. According to the Coast Guard, it is the largest cocaine seizure ever made by a single cutter during one operation.

Members of the Coast Guard display part of the $360 million cocaine haul intercepted near Colombia and Ecuador.

The drugs were recovered during 15 interdictions carried out by the Cutter Stone in the Eastern Pacific Ocean near Colombia and Ecuador. The suspected smugglers were detained and transferred to their home countries to face charges.

DEA Administrator Terry Cole said the mission not only disrupts criminal networks but also helps protect communities across the United States.

National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard also praised the operation, and Coast Guard Vice Admiral Nathan Moore called the haul a significant victory in ongoing efforts to combat transnational criminal organizations.

City of Pensacola Narrowing Down Candidates for Police Chief

Pensacola, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- Pensacola's police union has thrown its weight behind Deputy Chief Erik Goss for the city's next top cop. The Fraternal Order of Police announced this week it unanimously backs Goss for the job. City officials are still working through the hiring process. Mayor D.C. Reeves says his staff is meeting this week to figure out who the final candidates will be and how much public input there'll be. The position opened up after Chief Eric Randall stepped down in July. Acting Chief Kristin Brown is filling the role now, and Reeves wants to have her replacement in place before she retires. The city closed applications for the chief's job back in October.

ECUA TO STOP GIVING PENNIES AS CHANGE

Starting January first, the Emerald Coast Utilities Authority won't be able to guarantee pennies as change. The utility's banking partners say they can no longer order pennies due to US government production cuts. The change affects less than two percent of ECUA's customers—but that's still nearly two thousand people who pay in cash each month. When exact change isn't available, ECUA will credit any overpayment to customers' next bills. The utility says other coins and bills will remain in stock, and customers have other payment options available including online, by phone, check, or soon through a new lobby kiosk. (:35)