It is very unusual for a crew guard member to go missing during patrols.
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After months at sea, the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Waesche returned to San Diego on Thursday, with over 37,000 pounds of confiscated cocaine and one less crew member, lost at sea, officials said.
The offloading of their massive narcotics haul — which weighs about as much as a full grown humpback whale and is estimated to be worth $275 million — comes days after search efforts were ended for 23-year-old Seaman Bryan Lee, according to the Coast Guard.
Lee,whohailsfromRanchoCordova,wasdiscoveredmissingat6:45a.m.lastTuesdaywhiletheWaeschewasconductingaroutinecounter-drugpatrolaround300nauticalmilessouthof Mexico.Searchcrewsdedicatedover190hourstoscouring19,000nauticalmilesforLeeusingdrones,aircraftandvessels,beforesuspendingthesearchonMonday.
Theconfiscatedcocainewasnettedthrough11druginterdictionmissionsoffthecoastsofMexicoandCentralandSouthAmericafromDecemberthroughmidFebruary.AtanewsconferenceThursdaycelebratingtheseizure,amomentofsilencewasheldinLee’smemory.
“Itwastrulyinspiringto
