Michael Eagle News

The U.S. Coast Guard said it coordinated the rescue of three sailors aboard a sinking sailboat approximately 50 miles south of Balboa, Panama, at approximately 5:23 p.m., Sunday. The sailors, whose vessel was reportedly taking on water for several days, were rescued by the 600-foot motor vessel Glenda Meryl, an AMVER system vessel. Watchstanders from the 11th Coast Guard District rescue coordination center in Alameda, Calif., were notified at approximately 4:15 a.m. Sunday of a distress signal from a U.S.-registered 406 MHz emergency position indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) that was traced to the 42-foot Even Star. Search planners contacted the family of the owner who said the vessel had three U.S. citizens aboard and were on a voyage from California to Panama.

An aircrew from the Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron operating from the cutter Active fired warning shots, followed by engine disabling fire to render a drug-running panga inoperable as it attempted to avoid capture. U.S. Coast Guard crews intercepted the panga boat with approximately 7,100 pounds of marijuana and three suspected smugglers aboard in international waters some 155 miles southwest of San Diego. In the most recent incident an aircrew aboard a Coast Guard HC-130 Hercules aircraft initially detected the 30-foot panga and multiple assets…