I'm not sure the situation is worse today than it was back in the '80s and early '90s when the CG was very active in intercepting drugs, which were coming in through the Bahamas and also all along the East Coast in small boats. We were boarded and inspected five different times by the CG back then, and they had no computer database of any of this so one boarding didn't prevent one happening very soon after. I think we had three in about nine months as we sailed along the coast. One time they were offshore of Beaufort, NC sitting out there in the dark and they came aboard armed to the teeth, with a small boat circling us with machine guns pointed at us and the 50 cal. on the bow of the cutter also aimed right at us. I was happy nobody slipped. In those days standard protocol was to come aboard with guns drawn and pointing at you until they determined the situation. We were also boarded offshore, 400 miles from land. They were all over the place down in the Bahamas, and frequently you would hear and see the helicopters swooping low checking you out. About five or six years ago I was boarded and inspected by the Colombian Navy and the Mexican Navy too, so it is just part of cruising if you frequent waters where drugs are around, I'm sorry to say. I have to add that I think that as long as you have your papers in order and you are doing everything above board you will have no problems, and they generally do a very good job of not delaying you excessively. The CG has always been very professional about it. On the other hand, some of the local law enforcement officers are not well informed about their own laws or how to do this properly.
