U.S. border agents seized $11 million worth of cocaine from a ship off the coast of Puerto Rico
US: After spotting a boat off the coast of Puerto Rico, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine Operations (AMO) confiscated a boatload of cocaine valued at over $11 million.
The CBP said in a statement on Wednesday that the street value of the drugs that were confiscated is believed to be $11.9 million.
Three Dominican Republic nationals were taken into custody after investigators discovered 17 bundles containing bricks of cocaine totaling more than 1,321 pounds on board the ship.
On October 2, while on a normal patrol, the AMO Maritime Enforcement Aircraft (MEA) crew saw a vessel sailing eastward toward Puerto Rico. About 16 miles east of Desecheo Island, the boat was caught by an AMO Coastal Interceptor vessel with the assistance of the MEA’s ongoing monitoring.
The parcels’ cocaine content was later verified by lab testing.
The three guys were taken into custody, and the narcotics were confiscated by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) pending further investigation and legal action.
“This interdiction demonstrates our unwavering dedication to border security and safeguarding our citizens against the perils of illicit drugs,” said Christopher Hunter, the Caribbean’s director of aviation and marine operations, in a statement.
“Safeguarding our borders and ensuring the security and welfare of our citizens depend on the preservation of our Caribbean waterways. The unwavering dedication of law enforcement organizations in the area is shown by this successful interception, according to DEA Caribbean Division Special Agent in Charge Denise Foster.
Criminal Organizations
“U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the DEA operate seamlessly together, highlighting the power of our joint operations to destroy deadly criminal organizations trying to transport drugs into Puerto Rico and beyond. Each such operation strengthens the security and resilience of our area against the risks presented by drug trafficking.”
The seizure is the most recent in a run of narcotics seizures involving cocaine in recent months; in July alone, almost a ton was discovered at one point of entry on the border between the United States and Mexico.
Agents confiscated cocaine valued at over $30 million in September after stopping a vessel off the coast of Puerto Rico.
In August, two residents of the Dominican Republic were apprehended after being found in possession of cocaine valued at $6 million.
To fight drug trafficking and security concerns, AMO employs 1,800 federal agents, 240 airplanes, and 300 marine vessels across the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
CBP statistics show that in fiscal 2024, agents countrywide confiscated over 60,000 pounds of cocaine.
The extremely addictive stimulant substance cocaine is made from the leaves of the coca plant, a South American native.
