KEY WEST, Florida – The crew of Coast Guard Cutter Thetis (WMEC 910) has successfully returned to Key West after completing a rigorous 75-day migrant interdiction patrol in the Windward Passage and South Florida Straits.
During this mission, Thetis operated under the Homeland Security Task Force – Southeast and executed Operation Vigilant Sentry in the Seventh Coast Guard District. The crew focused on maritime safety and security operations aimed at protecting lives at sea and enforcing U.S. maritime laws.
- In two separate interceptions, Thetis crew members and Coast Guard Station Key West personnel apprehended 44 Cuban migrants who were attempting to illegally enter the U.S. by sea.
- Additionally, Thetis repatriated 197 Haitian migrants after providing care and facilitating their transfer from Coast Guard Cutter Valiant (WMEC 621).
- The mission also involved the capture of two suspected drug smugglers along with the seizure of contraband due to collaboration with Coast Guard Cutter Joseph Tezanos (WPC 1118).
Throughout the deployment, Thetis crew members collaborated with the Haitian Coast Guard, offering evaluations of their vessels and operational capabilities. This partnership aimed to bolster regional security and cooperation within the Caribbean.
During a port call in Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic, Thetis crew members volunteered at Fundación Casa Niños Felices, an orphanage for local children. They assembled fitness and sports equipment to enhance the orphanage’s recreational facilities, leaving a lasting, positive impact on the community.
“This patrol showcased a wide range of operations underscoring the essential role of the U.S. Coast Guard in the Windward Passage and South Florida Straits,” stated Cmdr. Gavin Garcia, commanding officer of Thetis. “I am extremely proud of the dedication and resilience demonstrated by the crew, which contributed to the success of this mission.”
Thetis is a 270-foot, Famous-class medium endurance cutter with a crew of 100, focusing on counter-narcotics and migrant interdiction, protection of living marine resources, and search and rescue operations across the Western Hemisphere.
