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US Authorities Bust 2 Smugglers, Seize $30m Cocaine

Published Mar 5, 2014 4:24 PM by The Maritime Executive

Coast Guard, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) seized a 2,432 pound cocaine shipment, a go-fast vessel, and apprehended two men following an at-sea interdiction in the Caribbean Sea Tuesday morning.

Federal law enforcement authorities involved in the interdiction were working in support of the Caribbean Border Interagency Group's (CBIG) Operation Caribbean Guard and the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force. The seized cocaine shipment was estimated to have a street value of approximately $30 million dollars, while the men detained claimed to be Dominican Republic nationals.

“Our multiagency and international partnerships in the region continue to pay off as we continue to interdict major drug shipments and bring smugglers to justice,” said Capt. Drew W. Pearson, Commander, Coast Guard Sector San Juan. “Our resolve and commitment are unwavering as we stand watch twenty-four seven to protect the safety and security of the citizens of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands from the threats delivered by the sea.”

While on a routine patrol in the Caribbean Sea late Monday night, the crew of a U.S. Coast Guard HC-144 Ocean Sentry Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) from Air Station Miami detected a 40-foot center console vessel, with two outboard engines and two subjects onboard, traveling northbound without any navigation lights. The Coast Guard aircraft was later relieved by a CBP Office of Air and Marine (OAM) MPA, which continued to maintain surveillance of the go-fast vessel as it transited on a northern course through the Caribbean Sea en-route the southern coast of Puerto Rico. 

The CBP MPA maintained constant surveillance as responding CBP Ponce Marine Units intercepted the go-fast vessel, approximately six nautical miles south of Ponce, Puerto Rico.  The crew of the CBP marine unit located the suspected illegal drug shipment in plain sight, a total of 30 bales, and detained the two suspected smugglers onboard.

Further inspection and testing of the suspected contraband revealed the contents to be cocaine.

“These arrests and multi-kilogram seizure are a strong indication of the success of the Caribbean Corridor Strike Force Initiative,” said Rosa Emilia Rodríguez-Vélez, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico.  “The US Attorney’s Office and our law enforcement counterparts remain committed to using every law enforcement tool available to attack these criminal organizations and ensure that drug traffickers and their associates are brought to justice for the damage they inflict on our communities.”

“The collaborative operations and partnerships under CBIG always yield positive results to stop smuggling ventures,” stated Johnny Morales, Director of Air Operations for CBP’s Caribbean Air and Marine Branch (CAMB).

“HSI will continue working with our CCSF partners to investigate and prosecute those who in flagrant disregard of our laws and way of life try to smuggle or transport illegal contraband into or outside our area of jurisdiction,” said Ángel M. Meléndez, special agent in charge of HSI San Juan. “This seizure demonstrates what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together with vigilance and a commitment to enforce our nation's customs laws.”

Custody of the two smugglers, the narcotics, and the vessel were transferred over to Special Agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further investigation and prosecution.