Behind the Scenes: Coast Guard on Border Wars

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Written by: Christopher Lagan





This week's episode of National Geographic Channel's Border Wars features the Coast Guard Cutter Cushing's role in a $46-million dollar drug bust. Click the image to watch an excerpt from the episode. (Image courtesy of National Geographic)

Ever wonder what it would be like to ride along with the Coast Guard on a major drug bust? Your wait is over.



Tonight’s episode of Border Wars on National Geographic Channel will take you behind the scenes with the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Cushing as they partner with Drug Enforcement Administration and Customs and Border Protection to stop more than 3,000 pounds of cocaine from being smuggled into the United States.



Back in May, Border Wars went underway aboard Cushing as the crew seized 66 bales of cocaine after the 87-foot fishing vessel Two Brothers was intercepted by the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force en route to the U.S. to unload their cargo of illegal drugs.



Here’s what the producers of Border Wars are saying about this week’s episode:



Witness one of the Caribbean’s largest drug busts of the year — over 1.5 tons of cocaine worth more than $40 million found aboard a Panamanian fishing boat heading to the U.S. As the State Department negotiates for possession of the ship, the DEA and Coast Guard stand guard over the cargo. When a suspected smuggler requires medical attention, the situation becomes urgent in a scramble to get medication on board.



Click here to watch an excerpt from tonight’s episode.



Tune in to National Geographic Channel tonight at 9 p.m. to watch Border Wars. If you can’t catch it tonight, the episode will re-air on November 13th & 17th.