Pubdate: Thu, 22 Mar 2007 Source: Watertown Daily Times (NY) Copyright: 2007 Watertown Daily Times Contact: http://www.wdt.net Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/792 Author: Associated Press Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) 43,000 POUNDS OF COCAINE SEIZED OFF PANAMA COAST WASHINGTON - The U.S. Coast Guard has seized 43,000 pounds of cocaine hidden in two containers aboard a ship off the coast of Panama, the largest-ever American seizure of the drug at sea, officials said Wednesday. The Coast Guard cutters Hamilton and Sherman, based in California, intercepted the Panamanian-flagged Gatun Sunday about 20 miles southwest of Isla de Coiba after a patrol aircraft spotted the vessel the previous day, the Coast Guard said. Fourteen Panamanian and Mexican crewmembers were arrested and will be charged by U.S. and Panamanian authorities, officials said. "This record-breaking seizure denied the Mexican drug lords $300 million in drug revenue," Drug Enforcement Agency administrator Karen P. Tandy said. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin