A typical scene for the members of the US Coast Guard's Drug Interdiction and Assistance Teams (DIAT) of the late 1980s and early 1990s. After encountering a narcotics laboratory it was necessary to render it unusable by either flame or explosion. 



The remains of a narcotrafficker’s airstrip.


One of the plankowners of DIAT (left) and a member of the DEA posing in front of what used to be a narcotics laboratory.


The former commanding officer of DIAT (rear) moving through one of Bolivia's many swamps. Not exactly a standard mission for the US Coast Guard.



UMOPAR officers posing in front of the burning lab.

A Coastie turned demolition expert setting a charge to render the airstrip unusable.

From left to right, Charlie Villemaire, Mike Kaszuba, and Steven “Sleepy” Franks standing in front of the “vaca blanca.” Note that the Coast Guard aircrew is armed, a sight that had not been seen since the Vietnam War. Courtesy of Matthew C. House, Maintenance Supervisor of Air Station Clearwater during Operation Jester. 

T-shirts the teams had made shortly before the program was dismantled. Note the vast array of countries that saw DIAT operations.