U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) recently seized a vessel near the southern coast of Puerto Rico carrying approximately 1,320 pounds of cocaine.
The incident began on April 12 as a CBP DHC-8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft crew detected a suspicious go-fast style vessel with two men aboard traveling without navigational lights. The DHC-8 crew then communicated the vessel’s position with a CBP Interceptor unit.
The Interceptor unit approached the vessel approximately four miles south of Salinas, Puerto Rico and was able to arrest the two individuals aboard, one Dominican national and one Venezuelan national, without incident. CBP Marine agents then recovered 20 bales of cocaine weighing 1,320 pounds, which is street-valued at approximately $17 million.
“Air and Marine agents always remain vigilant to interdict and arrest criminals trying to smuggle narcotics through our coastal areas,” CBP’s Director of Air and Marine Operations for the Caribbean Air and Marine Branch Johnny Morales said.
The arrested individuals were turned over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit for processing.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of the nation’s borders at and between the official ports of entry. AMO serves as the agency’s aeronautical and maritime unit.