US Customs and Border Protection intercepts vessel carrying 1500 pounds of marijuana off Texas coast

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (AMO) marine unit along with its Regional Coordinating Mechanism (RECOM) partners recently intercepted a vessel carrying 1500 pounds of marijuana off the Texas coast near Corpus Christi.

The AMO crew was patrolling the maritime border near Corpus Christi, Texas aboard a 39-foot Midnight Express when the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) informed them of a suspicious vessel heading to U.S. shores.

The USCG vectored the crew to intercept the vessel. After intercepting the vessel about 10 miles out from the Corpus Christi shore, AMO marine interdiction agents discovered 30 bundles of marijuana with an estimated wholesale value of $4 million.

The crew of three Mexican nationals aboard the vessel were arrested, and the boat and marijuana were seized.

“Uniting the efforts of the law enforcement community is a tremendous force multiplier in our collective efforts to detect and intercept maritime threats to safeguard our waterways,” AMO McAllen Director of Marine Operations Ralph Cabrera said. “We will continue to take every opportunity, alongside our partners, to intercept transnational criminal organization’s activity in this area.”