 The 18 m long steel and fiberglass craft was detected by a U.S. Navy aircraft as part of Operation Panama Express and was intercepted by Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment 402 which was deployed aboard USS "McInerney".Five days later, an 18 m semi-submersible was seized by the Coast Guard cutter "Midgett" about 322 km south of Guatemala.Few other narco-submarines were seized as their crews scuttled them upon interception, with the vessels often sinking within a few minutes.