Thanks to joint work by Marine Interdiction Agents of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (AMO) and Puerto Rico Police Department FURA agents, a boat carrying 860 pounds of cocaine was seized over the weekend.
On Saturday, September 2, FURA alerted a patrolling Caribbean Air and Marine Branch AMO Coastal interceptor Vessel crew that a 25 foot Dusky center console vessel was suspect and in the vicinity of Boquerón, Puerto Rico. About six miles out, the interdiction agents found the lights-out vessel with two U.S. citizens aboard. Upon search, agents found 14 bales of suspected contraband hidden inside the boat’s forward cabin and, after testing, it turned out to be cocaine.
Given the amount found, it would have had an estimated value of around $9.3 million.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents arrested those onboard the vessel and seized the cocaine.