Office of External Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: July 28, 2009

Contact:  Lt. Michelle Ferguson
(337) 491-7803

Coast Guard MSU Lake Charles, local law enforcement agencies conduct maritime enforcement operations on Calcasieu Ship Channel

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Lake Charles and local law enforcement agencies conducted a multi-agency maritime law enforcement operation in Cameron Parish on Wednesday, July 22, 2009, along the southern portion of the Calcasieu Ship Channel and its approaches.

During this operation, more than 30 personnel, six small boats, one helicopter, and three K-9 drug units from various agencies boarded 18 offshore supply vessels and fishing vessels.  The intent of this 4-hour operation was to increase law enforcement and maritime homeland security presence along southwest Louisiana’s major waterway, enhance maritime domain awareness, continue developing regional partnerships, and investigate and prosecute any federal, state, or local violations discovered along a key portion of the nation’s Maritime Transportation System.

Coast Guard and participating agency officials conducted law enforcement boardings on vessels transiting throughout the operational zone to evaluate compliance with federal boating safety regulations, U.S., state and local laws and to verify proper crew credentials.  No vessel types were specifically targeted during this operation.     

Participating agencies included:

• MSU Lake Charles
• MSU Port Arthur
  
• Cameron Parish Sheriff’s Office,
  
• Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Enforcement Division
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Customs and Border Protection,
  
• Lake Charles Police Department
• Louisiana State Police
• Immigration and Customs Enforcementas
  

For more information on this operation, please contact Lt. Michelle Ferguson at (337) 491-7803.

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