Washington, DC - Patrick Yoes, National President of the Fraternal Order of Police, issued the following statement:

As of today, 26 watercraft transporting illegal narcotics have been intercepted by U.S. military assets, which have played an important part of the war on drugs for many years. That is 26 shiploads of dangerous narcotics that did not enter the United States, including 2,200 lbs. of cocaine from a single vessel. Our members—382,000 men and women—have to deal with the horrors of drug trafficking and all the violence and death associated with the illicit drug trade. These dangers include exposure to hazardous substances during seizures, which is not the case with these military interdictions.

I believe we will see a large, measurable drop in the availability of these drugs on our streets and in our communities thanks to President Trump’s efforts. On behalf of our members, we are grateful for these international efforts as our law enforcement officers fight drug traffickers here at home.