The battle against drug cartels extends to the high seas (video)
By RICARDO ARAMBARRI and HERMAN ULLOA
It’s estimated that over 80 percent of the cocaine entering the United States is transported during part of its journey by sea. For that reason, the U.S. Coast Guard has moved the battlefield in the fight against drug trafficking to the oceans.
Univision’s Ricardo Arambarri got exclusive access on board the USS Nicholas during Operation Martillo, a 175-day-long mission patrolling the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic and Pacific coastal waters of South and Central America.
Arambarri and cameraman Herman Ulloa were on board for 10 days and witnessed the interception of a speed boat loaded with drugs. Operation Martillo returned to land on July 17th with four tons of cocaine and marihuana seized during the mission, with an estimated wholesale value of $93 million.
Cameraman and editor Ulloa, says they came back with 30 hours of footage to work with. Here’s a behind the scenes look during the shoot. For the original Spanish version of this production, which aired on Univision’s Aqui y Ahora, click here (check out Navy officers speaking Spanish!)
