Snow way to treat a sea turtle!
THE COAST GUARD seized 1,800 pounds of cocaine abandoned in the ocean — and saved a sea turtle in the process.
The crew of the vessel Thetis found the endangered creature surrounded by bales of cocaine (photo) in the eastern Pacific last month.
“They probably felt the heat coming and got rid of it,” Thetis Cmdr. Jose Diaz told NBC News Tuesday of the suspected smugglers.
“There were some marks on her neck, so she may have been there a day or two.”
Ensign Mark Krebs said his team immediately noticed the entangled sea turtle, according to the Coast Guard. They saw “significant chaffing” from the lines on his neck and flippers, and cut the beast free.
Authorities seized seven tons of cocaine and 14 pounds of marijuana during Operation Martillo, according to the Coast Guard. Twenty-four suspected smugglers were busted. Tacoma’s old station, before a newly built one opened as part of the 501’s new route.
Survivor Chris Scholl, one of the train’s 78 passengers, snapped photos from inside a separated car, where he tried to help the wounded.
“We had made sure everyone in our car was OK and had gotten one of the windows open,” he told ABC News.
His photos showed several cracked windows and a caved-in roof.
Five crew members were also aboard the train, which was about 20 miles south of Tacoma when it derailed.
Crews began clearing rail cars from the freeway and surrounding area Tuesday.
National Transportation Safety Board investigators haven’t released a cause for the horrific accident.