As part of an enforcement program aiming to disrupt illicit trafficking along the Miami River, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have seized thousands of pounds of cocaine and six vessels over the last three years, CBP said in a recent press release.
This summer, CBP officers discovered approximately 195 pounds of cocaine on a fishing vessel during an inspection along the Miami River and, in May 2016, more than 2,000 pounds welded into the decking plate of a freighter.
“As America’s unified border agency, U.S. Customs and Border Protection plays a critical role in efforts to combat the flow of dangerous illicit drugs from entering through South Florida waterways and harming local communities,” Miami Seaport Port Director Dylan J. DeFrancisci said. “We’ll continue to refine and further enhance the effectiveness of our detection and interdiction capabilities along with our network of local, state, federal and international partners.”
CBP operations in Florida include travel and trade facilitation and securing over 1,200 miles of the coastal border.